Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #4708 in DVD
• Released on: 2005-05-09
• Rating: Suitable for 15 years and over
• Aspect ratio: 1.85:1
• Formats: Anamorphic, Box set, PAL, Special Edition, Widescreen
• Original language: English
• Subtitled in: English
• Number of discs: 2
• Running time: 106 minutes

Amazon.co.uk Review
Foursquare in the gritty-but-hearwarming tradition of Brassed Off and The Full Monty comes Billy Elliot, the first film of noted British theatrical director Stephen Daldry. The setting is County Durham in 1984, and things 'oop North are even grimmer than usual: the miners' strike is in full rancorous swing and 11-year-old Billy's dad and older brother, miners both, are staunch on the picket lines. Billy's got problems of his own. His dad's scraped together the fees to send him to boxing lessons, but Billy's discovered a different aptitude: a genius for ballet dancing. Since admitting to such an activity is tantamount, in this fiercely macho culture, to holding up a sign reading "I AM A RAVING POOF", Billy keeps it quiet. But his teacher, Mrs Wilkinson (Julie Walters, wearily undaunted) thinks he should audition for ballet school in London. Family ructions are inevitable.

Daldry's film sidesteps some of the politics, both sexual and otherwise, but scores with its laconic dialogue (credit to screenwriter Lee Hall) and a cracking performance from newcomer Jamie Bell as Billy. His powerhouse dance routines, more Gene Kelly than Nureyev, carry an irresistible sense of exhilaration and self-discovery. Among a flawless supporting cast Stuart Wells stands out as Billy's sweet gay friend Michael. And if the miners' strike serves largely as background colour, there's one brief episode, as visored and truncheoned cops rampage through neat little terraced houses, that captures one of the most spiteful episodes in recent British history. --Philip Kemp

Synopsis
Billy Elliot (Jamie Bell) is an 11-year-old boy living in north east England in the mid-1980s. While his gruff father and brother are taking part in a massive coal miners strike, Billy goes to boxing lessons and furtively plays his dead mother's piano out of loneliness. One day Billy notices a ballet class nearby. Intrigued, he begins practising and taking lessons from Mrs. Wilkinson (Julie Walters), a tough-minded teacher. Billy begins to fall in love with ballet but keeps his lessons a secret from his family, who struggle to put food on the table while the strike drags on. When his father finally learns the truth, a family crisis erupts, and Billy struggles to prove that dancing is more than just a hobby--it's his dream. BILLY ELLIOT is a touching and heartwarming story that avoids clichés by setting the story in the grim mining town of northern England amid economic hardship and sacrifice, showing the joy and release that dancing provides for Billy. Newcomer Jamie Bell, who does all his own dancing in the film, deserves special credit for his performance as Billy.

Customer Reviews

"I want to be a ballet dancer!"
Billy Elliot (Jamie Bell) lives in a working-class village in northern England, where his father and brother, both miners, have been on strike and times are tough. Billy, who is eleven, loves music, and one day he leaves his boxing class at the local gym and joins the girls' ballet class, taught by Mrs. Wilkinson (Julie Walters). With a lot of practice, Billy becomes so good that she thinks he should audition for the Royal Ballet School in London. This would be the chance of a lifetime, but Billy's father doesn't know he's been dancing; he thinks ballet is for just for girls.

I love this movie. It is charming, honest, and uplifting. Gary Lewis is wonderful as Billy's father. We see him change from a bitter, defeated man to a proud and happy dad. Julie Walters gives a heartfelt performance as the tough teacher with a heart of gold. Jamie Bell, in his movie debut, is natural and sweet, a good dancer, and a sensitive actor. This is a movie you'll want to enjoy more than once because it's such a touching, feel-good story.

Amazing
From the opening titles i knew i would love this film, and i did. Its so fantastically written and brilliantly acted. Anyone who enjoys a nice personal small scale story will love this film. Its a well known story, but for those that dont know, it basicalls evolves around a young boy (Billy) who aspires to be a ballet dancer much to the disapproval or his recently widowed father and his older brother. All this happens in the midst of the mining strikes that dominated the news in much of the 80's. The same strikes that his brother and father are caught up in. Its wonderfully witty, poignant and very powerful in places. Its a great film!

Anyone who has seen the film already and wants to know what the difference is between this DVD and the one previous, well theres a lot more to be seen on this new edition. It has some great making of's and features on the characters that have never been seen before. Theres also two great documentaries about Billy Elliot The Musical (which looks to be great!) There are some great previews and teasers that will have you booking tickets to go and see it!

Absolutely Amazing!
The most imaginative film for years. Made even more significant by the stage play at the Victoria Palace Theatre, London - Billy Elliot The Musical. For anyone who remembers the 1984 miners strike and the heartbreak it caused to thousands of people, the film and play create a beautiful harmony of tears and joy. For anyone going to watch the musical, watch this DVD first. Once seen, the musical becomes even better. Stephen Daldry (The Director) and his fellow Producers capture the scenes perfectly in both. The same creative team who wrote the film also wrote the musical with the addition of Elton John who adds the music. The actors in both the the film and stage play are exceptional. The boys that play Billy are highly talented as are the experienced casts. Don't miss either this film or the musical. Some advice about tickets for Billy Elliot The Musical... they are very hard to get as the performances are VERY booked up! However, the wait is definately worth it and you will be left with a memory of seeing the best London theatre show in your life!