Cinema Cinema Cinema Cinema Cinema Cinema Cinema Cinema Cine 154 YOUNG PEOPLE module 10 Film BILLY ELLIOT Production: Working Title Films, BBC & Arts Council of England Written by: Greg Brennan & John Finn Director: Stephen Baldry Starring: Julie Walters, Gary Lewis, Jamie Bell The film is the story of the relationships within a family struggling to deal with the most important social event in British history since World War II the coal miners strike in 1984. Billy shocks his father and brother by deciding to become a classical ballet dancer, but when he wins a place at the Royal Ballet School, they support him and are proud of his success. Jamie Bell, who plays Billy, is not a professional dancer; the director interviewed more than 2,000 local school boys before he found Jamie. He wanted a boy who lived in the area, had the local accent and could be taught to dance. Jamie doesn t intend to become a classical ballet dancer, but he does want to continue acting. BEFORE VIEWING file 10 Do you enjoy classical ballet? Why/Why not? Which ballets have you seen? A synopsis The story of Billy and his love of ballet is set against the historical events of the miner s strike and the traditionally tough world of the mining communities in northern England. Billy s father and brother are both miners and the strike has had severe effects on their village. There are police vans in the streets and policemen in riot gear chase Billy s brother through the village. This scene is based on the police charge against the people of Armthorpe (see box on p. 155). Billy s mother has died recently and the family are still grieving. After school, Billy has the job of looking after his aged, confused grandmother while his father and brother picket the mines. One day while he is at boxing lessons which he hates he sees a ballet lesson that is being held in the same sports hall and is fascinated. The dance teacher encourages him to take part in the lessons and soon realises that he has talent. Against the wishes of his family, who think that ballet is for sissies , she trains Billy until he is ready to take an audition at the Royal Ballet School. When Billy s father sees him dance and realises that his son really does want to dance more than anything, he goes back to work in the mine and sells his wife s jewellery in order to earn enough money to take Billy to London for the audition. The film closes with a scene from Swan Lake danced by Billy (Adam Cooper of the Royal Ballet), now grown up and leading dancer in an all-male production of this classical ballet. The soundtrack of this film is an important part of the story, the music by T. Rex, The Clash and Jam accompanies the action and often replaces dialogue. CURIOSITY CORNER DURHAM Durham is the county in north-west England where Billy lives. To the north and east the county is bounded by the North Sea, and to the west by the Pennines. The city of Durham was founded in the 10th century by monks from Lindisfarne. The city has a beautiful Norman cathedral (1093) and a castle dating from the 11th century. The area is known for its coal mines which gave work to the majority of the men in the area until they were closed. Durham, castle and cathedral.