There are families where parents decide for their children’s future. They act as an oracle giving prophesies for their children. Luckily today, such manners are minimally done. Parents today allow their children to follow and do what they want as long as it is legal, appropriate, and could assure a bright future.
The film Billy Eliot by Stephen Daldry was character oriented. It had focused on a young boy, Billy Elliot, who lost his mother at a young age and was trained by his father to be a boxer. It was clearly seen that Billy was incapable of playing well which led him to stay longer for practice and to wait until their neighboring class, ballet, would finish. As he peeped, he was enticed until he joined the class. The teacher, Mrs. Wilkinson, saw Billy’s potential as a dancer and encouraged him to continue and to audition in Royale Ballet School. Ballet, during that time, was seen as something to be done by females and his father would be totally against it. To avoid his father’s reprimands, he practiced in secret. No secrets would be kept hidden; being caught was bound to happen. He did stop after being caught and yet still, his passion for dancing overflows. His father then decides to allow his son to audition which is why he chose to earn money by abandoning the strike and took sides with the government. His older son saw him and pulled him away and thought of a new way to earn. Each of them, including their friends, saved and chipped in. He auditioned, was accepted, and soon showed Billy, all grown up, dancing the black swan.
The film was set at County Durham, during the 1984 strike against the Thatcher closure of British coal mines. Billy’s father, Jackie Elliot, and his brother, Tony Elliot, were one of the workers who strived hard to fight against the injustice of closing the only affiliation they have. I actually find it hard as to why the director chose to set such story during that time but somehow, it actually helped and added more drama. The characters themselves were very effective. Jamie Bell, as Billy, did great in drawing people’s attention and emotion. With his smile and frown, he’d immediately make the viewers feel the same way. Jamie Draven, as the brother, and Gary Lewis, as the father, did great as stirring anger and affection to the viewers; their act of judging Billy, their fight for justice, and their hidden love for their family. Julie Walters, as Mrs. Wilkinson, effectively portrayed a depressed yet very compassionate woman. Jean Heywood, as the grandmother, must be given credit as she gave the viewers something to giggle at regardless of the scenes being shown. The music used was appropriately done which also helped in connecting the emotions with the viewers.
The film then was basically about letting go and moving on; opening doors for new opportunities. The father no longer forces his son to pursue boxing and allowing him to do what he truly wants which is to dance. The boy’s longing for his mother which in the end he finally moved on. The government’s decision in opening the coal mines also symbolizes the theme. There are minimal symbolisms in the film for it was direct to the point which must’ve been the director’s style. The grandmother repeatedly saying that she should’ve been a famous dancer symbolizes the effects of closed doors; being unable to pursue her dreams. Another is the scene when Billy sat down, after dancing his anger away, with a sudden change of weather signified the time that had passed by and the change of his father’s heart. It was after that scene when his father saw his passion for dancing and allowed him to audition.
I highly recommend everyone to watch this film to see facts about life and to learn from it.
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