Movie Tip #34 - Billy Elliot

Director: Stephen Daldry

Starring: Jamie Bell, Julie Walter, Gary Lewis,

Description: Against the background of an increasingly bitter miners' strike that his elder brother and father are involved in, young Billy Elliot (Jamie Bell) finds he prefers joining in the girls' ballet class at the local hall to the boxing he's there for. The ballet mistress soon realises he has real potential, but no-one, least of all his family, is likely to go along with a lad doing dancing.

Review: It's a heartwarming story of a boy who discovers a true talent and passion in a sport his father doesn't allow him to do. You see how the family struggles with the strike, their mothers death and each other. And Billy is a wonderfull boy, full of life and joy, which comes to his true colors when he does ballet. Fantastic performance by Jamie Bell, who later on starred in "King Kong" and "Hallem Foe". Julie Walters, as the balletteacher, and Gary Lewis, who's Billy's dad, play great roles. A movie you won't forget easily. They even made it in to a musical, so I can't wait 'till it hits theatres in The Netherlands.