- Billy Elliot
Infobox Film
name = Billy Elliot
caption = Theatrical release poster
director =Stephen Daldry
producer = Jonathan Finn
writer = Lee Hall
starring =Jamie Bell Julie Walters
Gary LewisJamie Draven
music =Stephen Warbeck
cinematography = Brian Tufano
editing = John Wilson
distributor =Universal Focus (USA )Working Title Films Studio Canal
released =13 October 2000
runtime = 111 min.
country =UK
language = English
budget = $5 million
gross = $21,995,263
website = http://www.billyelliot.com/
amg_id = 1:201730
imdb_id = 0249462"Billy Elliot" is a 2000
film written by Lee Hall and directed byStephen Daldry . Set in the fictional town of 'Everington' in the realCounty Durham ,UK , it starsJamie Bell as 11-year-old Billy, an aspiring dancer, Gary Lewis as hiscoal miner father,Jamie Draven as Billy's older brother, andJulie Walters as his dance instructor. In 2001, authorMelvin Burgess was commissioned to write the novelisation of the film based on Lee Hall's screenplay. The story was adapted for the West End stage as "Billy Elliot the Musical " in 2005, which will open on Broadway in 2008.Plot
Billy (
Jamie Bell ) is a boy living inCounty Durham . His father, Jackie (Gary Lewis), and older brother, Tony (Jamie Draven ) are striking miners during theUK miners' strike (1984–1985) .Billy's father is an admirer of real life world
boxing championKen Buchanan , and hopes that Billy would become a champion boxer. Billy, however, is more interested in music, a passion he inherited from his late mother.Billy is taken to the
boxing gym by his father, but he finds out that he doesn't really like the sport, and has no real talent for it. Part of the boxing gym is used by aballet class because their usual studio in the basement of the sports center is being used as a soup kitchen for the striking miners. He is drawn in by the dance instructor (Julie Walters ), and with her help, secretly starts taking ballet class.As a consequence of Billy's brother being arrested, he misses an important audition for the
Royal Ballet School . His dance instructor goes to their house to tell his father about the missed opportunity. Billy's father and brother, fearing that Billy will be seen as a "poof", become outraged at the idea of him becoming a professional ballet dancer.Once having seen Billy dance however, his father understands that ballet is Billy's passion and he takes him to an audition in
London himself. Billy is accepted and moves to London on his own at age 11 to attend the school.The movie concludes with a scene that takes place 14 years later, where his father and brother see Billy dancing. The film ends as the older and more mature Billy (dancer/actor Adam Cooper) takes the stage to perform the lead in
Matthew Bourne 's "Swan Lake".Cast
*
Jamie Bell as Billy Elliot
*Julie Walters as Mrs. Wilkinson
*Gary Lewis as Jackie Elliot
*Jamie Draven as Tony Elliot
*Jean Heywood as Grandma Elliot
*Janine Birkett as Mrs. Elliot
*Stuart Wells as Michael Caffrey
*Mike Elliott as George Watson
*Billy Fane as Mr. Braithwaite
*Nicola Blackwell as Debbie Wilkinson
*Colin MacLachlan as Mr. Tom Wilkinson
*Adam Cooper as Billy Elliot, age 25
*Merryn Owen as Michael Caffrey, age 25Awards and nominations
The film was nominated and won awards worldwide including the following.
2000
* Won -
British Independent Film Awards , UK - Best British Independent Film
* Won -British Independent Film Awards , UK - Best Director - Stephen Daldry
* Won -British Independent Film Awards , UK - Best Newcomer - Jamie Bell
* Won -British Independent Film Awards , UK - Best Screenplay
* Nominated -British Independent Film Awards , UK - Best Actress - Julie Walters
* Won - Propeller of Motovun,Croatia 2001
* Nominated -
Academy Awards , USA - Best Actress in a Supporting Role - Julie Walters
* Nominated -Academy Awards , USA - Best Director - Stephen Daldry
* Nominated -Academy Awards , USA - Best Writing in a Screenplay Written Directly for the Screen - Lee Hall
* Won - Amanda Awards, Norway - Best Foreign Feature Film
* Nominated -American Cinema Editors , USA - Best Edited Dramatic Feature Film - John Wilson
* Nominated - Angel Awards, - Best Feature Film
* Nominated -Art Directors Guild , - Feature Film
* Nominated -Australian Film Institute , - Best Foreign Film Award
* Won -BAFTA Awards , - Alexander Korda Award for Best British Film
* Won -BAFTA Awards , - Best Performance by an Actor in a Leading Role - Jamie Bell
* Won -BAFTA Awards , - Best Performance by an Actress in a Supporting Role - Julie Walters
* Won - London Critics Circle Film Awards, - British Actress of the Year - Julie WaltersIn 2004, the
magazine "Total Film " named "Billy Elliot" the 39th greatest British film of all time.oundtrack
The soundtrack includes several well-known rock and punk rock songs:
# "Cosmic Dancer" - T. Rex
# "Get It On (Bang a Gong)" - T. Rex
# "Town Called Malice " -The Jam
# "I Love to Boogie" - T. Rex
# "London Calling" -The Clash
# "Children of the Revolution " - T. Rex
# "Shout to the Top " -The Style Council
# "Walls Come Tumbling Down" -The Style Council
# "Ride a White Swan " - T. Rex
# "Burning Up " -Eagle Eye Cherry ee also
*"
Billy Elliot the Musical "
*"The Stars Look Down "References
External links
* [http://www.billyelliot.com/ Official site]
* [http://www.musicaltalk.co.uk/episodes_0054.html MusicalTalk podcast episode featuring a discussion on Billy Elliot]
*
*###@@@KEY@@@###succession box
before = "East is East"
after = "Gosford Park "
title = Alexanda Korda Award for Best British Film
years = 2000
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