It is 1984, northeastern England when the coal miners are on strike which can get particularly ugly. Billy Elliot (Jamie Bell) is just a young boy with a love for music and plucking out tunes on the piano for fun. Not that his father, Jackie (Gary Lewis) or elder brother, Tony (Jamie Draven) understand. Billy takes boxing lessons which he doesn't really like nor is he truly talented at it. But then the chain-smoking Mrs. Wilkinson (Julie Walters) starts teaching her ballet classes there. He starts taking them and practicing around his house, privately of course. Because his father is furious when he finds out. Then Mrs. Wilkinson decides that Billy has true potential and begins teaching him privately and secretly without asking for any money.
Things seem like they might actually work out but then Tony gets arrested the morning of Billy's big audition and a nasty argument ensues between Tony, Jackie and Mrs. Wilkinson and Billy's talent is squashed. In fact, the piano is smashed for firework that winter thanks to the strike. Christmas is a sad, depressing affair. It is only because Billy's friend, Michael (Stuart Wells), struggling with his sexuality, wants to learn some ballet that Billy is able to resume. His father sacrifices his scruples and goes back to work before the strike is over, much to Tony's dismay. But Jackie must put Billy's needs first. He is finally on board with Billy's true dream and recognizes that Billy is immensely talented.
So Billy has his big audition and though he impresses the judges, they remain stoic throughout so Billy thinks that he has blown his one opportunity and punches another boy in the dressing room, something the board does not take lightly. But they also ask Billy the question of what he feels like when he dances and his answer is brilliant, he feels like he is flying which lands him a spot.
He goes away to London to fine his craft. The union caves and the strike is over so his father and brother go back to work and Mrs. Wilkinson is thrilled at her young pupil.
The film ends over a decade later with Tony, Jackie and Michael attending one of older Billy's (Adam Cooper's) performances because they wouldn't miss it for the world.
The plot in this film has been overdone, over and over again and this one fails to break new ground though it is enjoyable thanks mostly to Bell's excellent breakthrough performance. He deserved more credit for this role than he received. He truly dances and then the film comes to life because the film sags when he isn't moving, feeling the music in his soul. Walters is the one who received an Oscar nomination and she is quite good though Lewis deserves some credit as the father who finally realizes how important it is to support your child, especially one who longs for his mother. (She died before the film began.) Even Nan Heywood provides some good lines as the slightly senile grandmother who could have been a good dancer if she had the training.
Fortunately, the music is also good and I probably wouldn't even mind owning the soundtrack. The set is also realistic. But I do wish the viewers would be provided with some background information on the strike and the reasoning behind it because it plays a vital role in the film. Grade: B+
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