billy Elliot

Rating: 9/10 (7 November 2013)

As i was told of that my class would be watching the movie Billy Elliot is was not impressed, the thought of watching a movie for nearly two hours about a young boy living in a struggling town who strays away from what a normal boy of his time would do and take up ballet did not appeal to me. As the movie started i was very optimistic about whether i should turn my head away and gaze at the schools harbour views or sit there starring at the projector in front of me not knowing what i should expect. Surprisingly as the movie went on and i knew more deeply about what the characters situations were i became like what i was seeing. I was fascinated by what was happening to all of the miners in the town and the struggles they faced in getting food on the table for their families, but when Billy decided to continue to do ballet without his father knowing i knew i had to continue watching. The film engaged me in listening to the characters and knowing what they felt. I wanted to know what Mrs. Wilkinson was feeling as she realized what great talent billy had and i also wanted to know what was going to happen once Billy's father had found out and what Mrs. Wilkinson did to try and keep billy at the ballet lessons. When his father finally let go of his emotions towards Billy's going to ballet and excepted him for it on the cold Christmas night it was great to watch. When Billy's dad chose to boycott the strike and go back to work it showed how much love he had for his son and knew that if ballet was truly what Billy wanted to do he would not stop him. I believe the film Billy Elliot is great in showing that it is okay to go away from the typical gender stereotypes and to do what you love with out worrying about anyone else. JOEL CAMBOURNE