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Skip the story and read the review.
The
Story
Billy, who through his unexpected love of dance, embarks
on a journey of self-discovery in the world of picket
lines, cultural stereotypes, a family in crises and a
headstrong ballet teacher.
When
eleven-year-old Billy (Jamie Bell) stumbles across a local
ballet class that comes to share the village hall with
his boxing club, something in the magic of the movements
captures his imagination, and he's soon ditching his boxing
gloves to sneak in at the back of Mrs. Wilkinson's (Julie
Walters) lessons. With a sharp eye for talent, Mrs. Wilkinson's
zest for teaching is revived when she sees Billy's potential.
Rather forgetting the other ballerinas, she's drawn into
teaching her raw new protégé.
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| Billy
and Mrs Wilkinson |
Meanwhile,
Billy's father (Gary Lewis) and older brother Tony (Jamie
Draven) - both on strike - struggle to put food on the
table. Their pent up frustration finally explode when
they discover Billy has been squandering his boxing money
on less than manly pursuit. Banned from ballet, troubled
by the escalating senile behaviour of his grandma (Jean
Haywood), and missing his recently dead Mum more than
ever, Billy's relationship, with school friend Michael
(Stuart Wells) deepens into a touching friendship, while
new pal Debbie, daughter of Mrs. Wilkinson, awakens frightening,
but not unpleasant, feelings in Billy.
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| Billy
dancing in the street |
Mrs.
Wilkinson eventually persuade Billy to accept private
training, for free, telling him she wants him to audition
for the ballet school. The emotions released in their
intensive routines nearly break both of them, but when
the day of the audition comes, Billy is tragically forced
to miss it as a result of Tony's Scuffle with the police.
Taking matters into her own hands, Mrs. Wilkinson calls
on Billy's Father to explain the extraordinary chance
his son is missing, but is thrown out by an irate Tony,
much to Billy's humiliation.
Distraught
by his family lack of understanding, Billy unleashes his
feelings in a dance meant only for Michael to see, but
is caught mid-routine by his father.
Rooted to the spot by the power and animation of his son's
talent, he solemnly agrees to ensure Billy gets another
chance by auditioning in London. With the support from
the other miners, Billy and his Dad finally make it to
London for the gruelling audition, returning home to anxiously
await the ballet school's decision.
Fifteen
years later, Dad, Tony and Michael watch with pride as
the curtain rises on Billy's premiere leading role in
London's West End.
The
review
You are heartless if you don't love every minute of this
- and the makers, led by 91热爆 Films, should be very pleased
about it, too.
A
British film with a bit of 'Full Monty' and 'Brassed Off'
thrown in. It's a simple tale but one that is extremely
well told and acted. Fittingly for a story about dance,
it doesn't put a foot wrong and is engrossing, funny,
very sad, very moving and very uplifting.
| "We
really enjoyed it. The story was great, we laughed
and we cried. It was a good British movie. Wish we
could see more like this instead of some of the American
trash we are subjected to. I don't often go to the
cinema, there has to be something on that I really
want to see. I'm glad I went to see this one",
Wendy. |
Jamie
Bell as the young Billy is very impressive as he manages
the complex emotions his character goes through. He's
also outstanding at the dancing - managing not just to
be great at it, but also to show us a progression as he
struggles to become that great and the effort it takes
to keep it up.
Of
course the film is not perfect despite my high score.
What prevents it from being so is a mystery, you'll need
to see the film to understand what I mean.
Without
a doubt this is the best British movie for years.
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