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Billy Elliot
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Synopsis
Brassed Off meets My Name Is Joe in this gritty coming-of-age drama about a young son of a poor English coal miner who dreams of being a ballet dancer. The film is set during a 1984 miners' strike in Durham county, where angry clashes between picketers and cops in riot gear are nearly daily occurrences. Among the most vociferous protestors are Tony (Jamie Driven) and his dad (Gary Lewis), who nags his youngest son Billy (Jamie Bell) into taking boxing classes. Though the kid can do some fancy footwork, he can't take a punch. One day at the gym, he notices a ballet class taught by hard-bitten Mrs. Wilkinson (Julie Walters), whose young daughter dares him to join. When his father gets wind of this less-than-manly pursuit, he pulls him from the class. Sensing a raw and natural talent, Mrs. Wilkinson offers to teach the lad for free in preparation for the local auditions to the Royal Ballet School. When Tony gets in trouble with the cops, Billy is forced to miss the trials, leading to a confrontation between Billy's pop and Ms. Wilkinson. Though at first he steadfastly refuses to consider his son's desires of going into ballet, he comes to realize that this might be the one shot that Billy has in order to escape the danger and grinding tedium of a miner's life, so he sets out to earn the money by any means necessary to send his son to London. This film is the directorial debut of renowned British stage director Stephen Daldry. ~ Jonathan Crow, All Movie Guide

Cast

Julie Walters Mrs. Wilkinson
Gary Lewis Dad
Jamie Bell Billy Elliot
Jamie Driven Tony
Jean Heywood Grandmother
Stuart Wells Michael
Nicola Blackwell Debbie

Production Crew

Jina Jay Casting
Peter Darling Choreography
Brian Tufano Cinematographer
Stephen Warbeck Composer (Music Score)
Stewart Meacham Costume Designer
Stephen Daldry Director
David M. Thompson Executive Producer
Natascha Wharton Executive Producer
Tessa Ross Executive Producer
Martin Harrison First Assistant Director
Maria Djurkovic Production Designer
Lee Hall Screenwriter
Tatiana Lund Set Designer
Mark Holding Sound/Sound Designer
Year: 2000
Runtime: 111
Country: UK
MPAA Rating: R
for language
Category: Feature

Genre
Comedy Drama

Produced by
Arts Council of England
BBC
Tiger Aspect Pictures
Title Films
WT2

Release
November 03, 2000 (USA)
by Universal

Awards
2000 - Best British Film - British Academy Awards
2000 - Best Ensemble Performance - Screen Actors Guild
2000 - Best Film - British Academy Awards
2000 - Best Foreign Film - French Academy of Cinema
2000 - Best Motion Picture - Drama - Golden Globe
2000 - Best Picture - National Board of Review
2000 - Best Sound - British Academy Awards
2000 - Best Picture - Drama - Golden Globe
2000 - Best Ensemble Acting - Screen Actors Guild
2000 - Best Picture - British Academy of Film and Television
2000 - Best British Film - British Academy of Film and Television
2000 - Best Sound - British Academy of Film and Television
2000 - Best Picture - Drama - Hollywood Foreign Press Association