DramaComedyMusic

Billy Elliot

- Inside every one of us is a special talent waiting to come out. The trick is finding it.

County Durham, England, 1984. The miners' strike has started and the police have started coming up from Bethnal Green, starting a class war with the lower classes suffering. Caught in the middle of the conflict is 11-year old Billy Elliot, who, after leaving his boxing club for the day, stumbles upon a ballet class and finds out that he's naturally talented. He practices with his teacher Mrs. Wilkinson for an upcoming audition in Newcastle-upon Tyne for the royal Ballet school in London.

Release Date : 2000-09-28

Language :English

Adult : false

Status : Released

Production Company : StudioCanalBBC FilmTiger AspectArts Council of EnglandWorking Title FilmsUniversal PicturesWT² Productions

Production Country : FranceUnited KingdomUnited States of America

Alternative Titles : Billy Elliot (PG13)

Cast

Character Name : Billy Elliot

Original Name : Jamie Bell

Gender : Male

Character Name : Jackie Elliot

Original Name : Gary Lewis

Gender : Male

Character Name : Mrs Wilkinson

Original Name : Julie Walters

Gender : Female

Character Name : Grandma

Original Name : Jean Heywood

Gender : Female

Character Name : Tony Elliot

Original Name : Jamie Draven

Gender : Male

Character Name : Michael Caffrey

Original Name : Stuart Wells

Gender : Male

Character Name : George Watson

Original Name : Mike Elliot

Gender : Male

Character Name : Mr Braithwaite

Original Name : Billy Fane

Gender : Male

Character Name : Debbie Wilkinson

Original Name : Nicola Blackwell

Gender : Female

Character Name : Librarian

Original Name : Carol McGuigan

Gender : Male

Character Name : Gary Poulson

Original Name : Joe Renton

Gender : Male

Character Name : Mr Tom Wilkinson

Original Name : Colin MacLachlan

Gender : Male

Character Name : Billy's mother

Original Name : Janine Birkett

Gender : Female

Character Name : PC Jeff Peverly

Original Name : Trevor Fox

Gender : Male

Character Name : Sheila Briggs

Original Name : Charlie Hardwick

Gender : Female

Character Name : Miner

Original Name : Denny Ferguson

Gender : Male

Character Name : NCB Official

Original Name : Dennis Lingard

Gender : Male

Character Name : Simon

Original Name : Matthew James Thomas

Gender : Male

Character Name : Ballet Doctor

Original Name : Stephen Mangan

Gender : Male

Character Name : Tutor in Medical

Original Name : Paul Ridley

Gender : Male

Character Name : Principal

Original Name : Patrick Malahide

Gender : Male

Character Name : Vice-Principal

Original Name : Barbara Leigh-Hunt

Gender : Female

Character Name : Tutor 1

Original Name : Imogen Claire

Gender : Female

Character Name : Tutor 2

Original Name : Diana Kent

Gender : Female

Character Name : Tutor 3

Original Name : Neil North

Gender : Male

Character Name : Tutor 4

Original Name : Lee Williams

Gender : Male

Character Name : Teacher

Original Name : Petra Siniawski

Gender : Male

Character Name : Secretary

Original Name : Merelina Kendall

Gender : Female

Character Name : Sandra

Original Name : Zoë Bell

Gender : Female

Character Name : Geography Teacher

Original Name : Tracey Wilkinson

Gender : Female

Character Name : Michael (aged 25)

Original Name : Merryn Owen

Gender : Male

Character Name : Billy (aged 25)

Original Name : Adam Cooper

Gender : Male

Character Name : PC White (uncredited)

Original Name : Dylan Barnes

Gender : Male

Character Name : Young boy (uncredited)

Original Name : Liam Elcoat

Gender : Male

Character Name : Dancer in 'Swan Lake' (uncredited)

Original Name : Adam Galbraith

Gender : Male

Character Name : Dancer in 'Swan Lake' (uncredited)

Original Name : Darren Jacobs

Gender : Male

Character Name : Dancer in 'Swan Lake' (uncredited)

Original Name : Hendrick January

Gender : Male

Character Name : Jenny Poulson (uncredited)

Original Name : Sharon Percy

Gender : Female

Character Name : Police Officer (uncredited)

Original Name : Ken Richardson

Gender : Male

Character Name : Dancer (uncredited)

Original Name : Leonard Silver

Gender : Male

Character Name : Dancer in 'Swan Lake' (uncredited)

Original Name : Lee Smikle

Gender : Male

Character Name : Teenage Party Guest (uncredited)

Original Name : Catherine Turgoose

Gender : Male

Character Name : Dancer in 'Swan Lake' (uncredited)

Original Name : Damian Winter-Higgins

Gender : Male

Reviews

CinemaSerf

@Geronimo1967

2023-10-21

I hadn't seen this film since it was released when it was shown recently as a part of the Glasgow Youth Film Festival. The fact that it was chosen by the kids of today in what would have been just as unlikely a setting for this film as the North of England speaks volumes as to it's effect on challenging and breaking the stereotypical moulds that the British working class in the early 1980s was steeped in. The sylph-like "Billy" (the hugely engaging Jamie Bell) goes to boxing class each week but is soon more preoccupied by the adjacent dancing class of the no-nonsense "Mrs. Wilkinson" (Julie Walters) who gradually lets him join in. He's a bit scared that his dad (Gary Lewis) and his wayward brother "Tony" (Jamie Draven) will find out so it has to all be a bit clandestine. It's only when his striking miner father finds out from the boxing coach that "Billy" is spending his 50p elsewhere that a confrontation ensues and the film steps up a gear. The characterisations are strong and are not frightened to evolve - but not in a simplistic A+B=C fashion. There are troubles and traumas - not least those faced by a father who struggles with his own emotions; is facing financial difficulties, a wayward older son and a younger one who wants to dance and hangs about with best pal "Michael" (another strong effort from Stuart Wells) who is quite clearly gay. Walters and Bell and Bell and Lewis work well together here; allowing the story to emerge naturally and energetically and as feel-good films go, this takes some beating. It's the ultimate "anyone can do" film that resonates as well now as it did then - only, maybe, the soundtrack needs a bit of updating! Great film this - and there's even a tiny bit of Adam Cooper at the end.