BILLY ELLIOT (QUIERO BAILAR), (STEPHEN DALDRY, 2000)

En 1984, durante una huelga de mineros en el condado de Durham, se suceden los enfrentamientos entre piquetes y policía. Entre los mineros más exaltados están Tony y su padre. Éste se ha empeñado en que Billy, su hijo pequeño, reciba clases de boxeo. Pero, aunque el chico tiene un buen juego de piernas, carece por completo de pegada. Un día, en el gimnasio, Billy observa la clase de ballet de la señora Wilkinson, una mujer de carácter severo que lo anima a participar. A partir de ese momento, Billy se dedicará apasionadamente a la danza. (FILMAFFINITY)

PREMIOS

2000: 3 Nominaciones al Oscar: director, actriz de reparto (Julie Walters), guión original
2000 : 2 nominaciones al Globo de Oro: Mejor película - drama, actriz secundaria (Walters)
2000 : 3 premios BAFTA: mejor film británico, actor y actriz secundaria. 13 nominaciones
2000 : Nominada al Goya: Mejor película europea
2000 : Nominada al Cesar: Mejor película extranjera
2000 : Nominada al David de Donatello: Mejor película extranjera
2000 : National Board of Review: Mejor actor revelación (Jamie Bell)

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Emotiva comedia de los productores de "Cuatro bodas y un funeral" y "Notting Hill", que lograron su objetivo al obtener 3 nominaciones a los Oscar y convertirse en el éxito internacional del cine británico en el año 2000. En un pueblo minero inglés un niño cambia los guantes de boxeo por las zapatillas de ballet, pero el entorno social y familiar le obligará a hacerlo a escondidas. Divertida y conmovedora a ratos -atención a la escena del padre yendo a la mina-, consigue ese toque de complicidad que los filmes ingleses nos regalan de vez en cuando. No se la pierda. (Pablo Kurt: FILMAFFINITY)
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"Emotiva, divertida y sensible, aunque rubricada por un epílogo innecesario" (Lluís Bonet Mojica: Diario La Vanguardia)
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"Estupendo drama, salpicado por toques de comedia costumbrista (...) Una delicia" (Miguel Ángel Palomo: Diario El País)
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"El último peliculón del cine social británico. El que no llore, tiene horchata en las venas" (Javier Ocaña: Cinemanía)
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Estos días que estoy de vacaciones, estoy intentando aprovechar el tiempo para practicar inglés, ayer y hoy me he puesto esta película (que tenemos en dvd desde hace mucho tiempo) en inglés y con subtítulos en inglés, a ver si así mi comprensión oral y escrita van mejorando, ¡jajaja! madre mía lo difícil que me resulta, ¡no hay que desesperarse!

Anina

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Billy Elliot is a 2000 British drama film written by Lee Hall and directed by Stephen Daldry. Set in northern England, it stars Jamie Bell as 11-year-old Billy, an aspiring dancer, Gary Lewis as his coal miner father, Jamie Draven as Billy's older brother, and Julie Walters as his ballet teacher. In 2001, author Melvin 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; it opened in Australia in 2007 and on Broadway in 2008.

When the film was released in the United States, the Motion Picture Association of America gave it an R rating due to language. When released on video, it was re-cut to a PG-13 rating for "some thematic elements"; this version edited out many uses of profanity.

PLOT

 

The film is set during the 1984–1985 UK miners' strike, and centres on the character of 11-year-old Billy Elliot (Jamie Bell), his love of dance and his hope to become a professional ballet dancer. Billy lives with his widowed father, Jackie (Gary Lewis), and older brother, Tony (Jamie Draven), both coal miners out on strike, and also his invalid Nan (Jean Heywood), who once aspired to be a professional dancer in Durham.

Jackie takes Billy to the Sports Centre to learn boxing, but Billy dislikes the sport. He happens upon a ballet class that is using the gym while their usual basement studio in the Sports Centre is temporarily being used as a soup kitchen for the striking miners. Unknown to Jackie, Billy joins the ballet class. When Jackie discovers this, he forbids Billy to take any more ballet. But, passionate about dancing, Billy secretly continues lessons with his dance teacher Sandra Wilkinson's (Julie Walters) help.

Mrs. Wilkinson believes Billy is talented enough to study at the Royal Ballet School in London, but due to Tony's arrest during a skirmish between police and striking miners, Billy misses the audition. Mrs. Wilkinson tells Jackie about the missed opportunity, but fearing that Billy will be considered a "poof", both Jackie and Tony are outraged at the prospect of Billy becoming a professional ballet dancer.

Over Christmas, Billy learns his best friend, Michael is gay. Although Billy is not, he is supportive of his friend. Later, Jackie catches Billy dancing in the gym and realises his son is truly gifted; he will do whatever it takes to help Billy attain his dream. Jackie attempts to cross the picket line to pay for the trip to London, but Tony blocks him. Instead, his fellow miners and the neighbourhood raise some money,and Jackie sells Billy's mum's jewelry to cover the cost and Jackie takes him to London to audition for the Royal Ballet School. Though highly nervous, Billy performs well, but he punches another boy in his frustration at the audition and the fear that he has ruined his chance of attaining his dream. He is sternly rebuked by the review board. Seemingly rejected, Billy returns home with his father. Sometime later, he receives a letter accepting him to the Royal Ballet School, and he leaves home to attend.

The film's final scene is set fourteen years later (approximately 1999): the mature Billy (dancer/actor Adam Cooper) takes the stage to perform the lead in Matthew Bourne's Swan Lake, as Jackie, Tony, and Michael watch in the audience.

CAST

• Jamie Bell as Billy Elliot
• Julie Walters as Sandra Wilkinson
• Gary Lewis as Jackie Elliot
• Jamie Draven as Tony Elliot
• Jean Heywood as Grandma
• Stuart Wells as Michael Caffrey
• Nicola Blackwell as Debbie Wilkinson
• Colin Maclachlan as Tom Wilkinson
• Billy Fane as Mr. Braithwaite
• Janine Birkett as Jenny Elliot
• Adam Cooper as Billy Elliot, age 25
• Merryn Owen as Michael Caffrey, age 25
• Stephen Mangan as Dr. Crane

Wonderful film! I love it!

Anina