Great

Rating: Null/10 (7 April 2002)

In his great feature film debut, director Stephen Daldry recreates the Durham's coal-mining strike. A dark shadow is casting across the town by the riot-geared police, while friendships and families, including our protagonist's, are rent by the divisions a lengthy strike creates.
Billy is a good boy who takes the boxing gloves to follow in the footsteps of his father and grandfather. However, Billy seems to like more the mysterious ballet lessons then the boxing lessons. Julie Walters, who is the ballet teacher, soon recognizes Billy's talent and courage's him to try out for the Royal Ballet School in London. Naturally, Billy's father, Jackie is filled with rage. Sons should box or wrestle. `They don't do ballet.' The film is full of great performances. Jamie Draven, who is playing Billy's brother Tony, show us the true mind of revolution. Tony is fighting for the coal, he is the most raged character in the film, he seems to some mystical power over audience. I liked this Tony character and I even think, without it this film wouldn't be so good. Although in the very end of this movie, Tony rests on the shoulders of Jamie Bell as Billy, who gives a enormous breakthrough performance.