'Billy Elliott' will have you dancing just for kicks

By Wilhelmina Mauritz

Daily Arts Writer

"Billy Elliot" is like a song that whenever you hear it, makes you want to burst out singing.

The fact that you heard it somehow brightens up the rest of your day. On the surface, the film is a story about a young boy finding his life's passion in ballet dancing, but on a much deeper level it is about connections, how they are so important in life and how without them it is hard to be truly happy. One of the major themes of "Billy Elliot" is that people should always be themselves. Since this is a piece of advice I truly believe, I always like to see it being advocated.

The film takes place in a small mining town in New England. Billy (played by newcomer Jamie Bell) is a sweet kid that is kind of on his own in life after the death of his mother and the fact that his father and older brother are wrapped up in a coal miner's strike that has taken over the whole town. His father gives him money to take boxing lessons but Billy finds himself more drawn to ballet. Billy works hard at his newfound interest and finds that not only does he enjoy it, but he's also quite good.

"Billy Elliot" is filled with so many touching scenes that in the span of five minutes, this movie can make you laugh and cry, although there are by far more laughs than tears.

The relationship that Billy has with his senile grandma is a perfect example of this. On the one hand, there is the grandma who often has trouble remembering who Billy is and has a tendency to wander off from time to time, and there is the grandma that likes to remind everyone all the time that she could have been a professional dancer.

There is also a hilarious shot of Billy practicing some dance moves out of a book in his bathroom and he uses a glass with his grandma's teeth in it to hold the book open. Small details like that are what make this movie great.

Besides his grandma, Billy's friend Michael adds quite a bit of comic relief. Michael likes to wear his sister's dresses around from time-to-time and from the moment that Billy tells him that he has taken up ballet, all Michael can think about is getting a tutu. Unlike Billy's family, Michael appreciates Billy for what he is, even if it isn't the "normal" thing for many boys.

"Billy Elliot" drives home the fact that kids always seem to be more astute than adults because they don't hold anything back. Adults, who are in denial a lot of their life, may try to hide their misery but as is the case with kids, they can see right through all of that.

There's a really comical and yet poignant scene where Billy is talking with his friend who is also the daughter of his dance teacher. She explains to Billy that her mother and father sleep in different beds so "they don't have sex." She tells Billy that her father had an affair with someone he worked with but that she's not supposed to know that. Billy asks if her mother sleeps around too and without hesitation she replies quite matter of factly, "No, she's unfulfilled, that's why she dances."

The one downside to the film "Billy Elliot" has to do with its dramatics.

It is one thing to be moved emotionally by a movie but it is quite another to be blatantly pushed to feel that particular way. There were a few sentimental scenes that felt like they were just put in there to make the audience cry.

At certain times when I felt like crying, I found myself wondering why this scene was even taking place and asking what purpose it served?

All in all "Billy Elliot" is great. Although the storyline may not look like it would appeal to all, it has something in it for everyone.

"Billy Elliot" is filled with so much heart and soul that you shouldn't be surprised if you find yourself doing a little two-step coming out of the theater.

Universal Pictures

Bell of the ball: The newcomer star of Billy Elliot, Jamie Bell.