In this blog post, we will explore the question, “Why did Billy Elliot dance?” to discuss the dreams, growth, and the barriers of the times of a boy.
In 1984, a boy named Billy Elliot lives in a coal mining town in the county of Durham, England, with his miner father, older brother Tony, and grandmother who has dementia. The miners in the town’s coal mine are currently on strike, and Billy is forced to attend boxing lessons that he is not interested in. “Michael Caffrey” is a close friend of ‘Billy Elliot’ who has a feminine disposition and sometimes steals clothes from his mother and sister. One day, ‘Billy Elliot’ sees a ballet class taught by ‘Sandra Wilkinson’ next to his boxing class and becomes fascinated by ballet.
In 1984, the then-uncertain British Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher announced that she would close 20 of the 174 coal mines across the country and lay off 20,000 workers. The film’s theme revolves around this situation in a village where a boy is performing ballet in the midst of a tense and violent strike. The key to this film is that it uses ballet, which is an elite art, as its main subject during a turbulent time of strikes. By using contrasting subjects and backgrounds, it was able to create a story that is both moving and befitting of the theme of growth. An example of this is the scene in which Billy Elliot goes to London to learn ballet and the scene in which his father and brother return to the coal mine, which are shown almost at the end of the film.
When Billy Elliot first started ballet, his father did not understand it at all and opposed it. However, he later came to realize Billy’s talent. Realizing that even Billy would have to live as a miner, his father decided to give him the opportunity to do ballet. The scene where his father gives up his strike and returns to the mine alone for his son is very impressive. The scene in which Billy’s father breaks down in tears, saying, “I cannot give you the same future as mine,” because his son is doing ballet, shows the miserable reality of the family. Billy’s secret practice of Royal Ballet School auditions with teacher Sandra Wilkinson at the boxing gym looks beautiful even in the shabby gym. Ballet in a coal mining town may seem like an unrealistic story, but it is a realistic yet fantasy-like portrayal of a boy’s growth through his dreams.
This film may seem like a simple coming-of-age story about a boy growing up to be a ballet dancer. However, there is more meaning to this. The film’s setting vividly depicts the social unrest in the UK at the time, including the coal mine union movement and the problem of unemployment. It also naturally incorporates the historical background into the main theme of ballet. By setting the village’s background as a coal mining town and the main character’s father and brother’s jobs as miners, the environment around Billy Elliot is naturally formed.
Ballet and coal mines, the image of beautiful, pure white ballet dancers and the dark miners contrast, but in this film, the contrast adds to the sadness. This is because the miners’ sacrifice was necessary for Billy Elliot’s dream to come true. Billy Elliot, who cannot dance ballet because of his father’s opposition, runs through narrow alleys and dances. In that bleak and narrow alley, ‘Billy Elliot’ uses dance to relieve the anger that has built up inside him. It also has the effect of highlighting the feminine image of ballet by featuring miners and boxers, which have a strong masculine image. By setting the main character as a boy, the film breaks down the existing image of ballet and creates a new image. “Michael Caffrey,” a friend of ‘Billy Elliot,’ dresses up in women’s clothes and makeup, and even asks ‘Billy Elliot’ to get him a ballet skirt. ‘Michael Caffrey’ is the character who offers him a drink on a cold winter’s day, and then warms his frozen hands in his arms, and even kisses him, showing him his pure love.
As such, this film could be a coming-of-age movie set in the difficult British society, but it is also a unique coming-of-age movie that breaks down the image of men and women. In addition, the light and cheerful feeling of dance brings a sense of liveliness to the otherwise dark background of the film.
In the movie “The Full Monty,” which was released in 1997, fathers who lose their jobs overnight due to restructuring go on a strip show to make money. This movie also depicts the process of unemployed people gathering together to do something that is morally reprehensible, which is a strip show. Similarly, the movie “Billy Elliot” shows the growth of the main character through the subject of ballet.
The most important element of this film is the main character, Billy Elliot. Billy loves dancing and listens to his brother’s records secretly. He is forced to learn boxing by his father. He misses his deceased mother and takes care of his grandmother who has dementia, but he is a brave and mature boy who lives with dignity.
“Billy Elliot” is not weak at all. He speaks his mind and expresses his emotions honestly. He hides his ballet shoes under his bed because of his scary father, and goes to ballet lessons instead of boxing, but when his father finds out, he speaks his mind confidently. The scene where he listens to his mother’s nagging while drinking milk shows the heartbreaking feelings Billy Elliot has for his mother. When asked how it feels to dance for the judges at the Royal Ballet School audition, “Billy Elliot” replied, “It’s like I’ve been electrocuted, and I’ve lost myself and become a bird.” “Billy Elliot” is well aware of what he likes and is honest about it. This boyish and innocent charm of the character “Billy Elliot” is well expressed in the movie. This film was able to be completed as a coming-of-age movie of “Billy Elliot” thanks to this setting.
