Billy Elliot
June 2001 Reviewed by: Roger Kanno Format: DVD	(all ratings out of 5): Overall Enjoyment Picture Quality Packaged Extras Sound Quality

Billy Elliot is a film produced by the same company that brought us Four Weddings and A Funeral, and Notting Hill. This film, however, is very British, with northern accents remaining intact and provincial slang that many will find difficult to understand. And unlike Notting Hill, this is not an Americanized film in which North American sensibilities provide an idyllic view of life in the UK. Although some will find this very British perspective to be off-putting, it is exactly this alternative outlook and quirky sense of humor that give Billy Elliot its appeal.

The story takes place during the mid-eighties, when tensions between striking mine workers and mining companies who brought in scab workers caused social unrest and economic hardship. Billy Elliot’s father and brother are striking workers who see no end to the strike and who see little future in their lives because they realize that, even if the strike ends, it is only a matter of time before the mines close forever. It is amidst this hopeless working-class backdrop that Billy discovers dance as an outlet for his creative energy. Naturally, this causes conflict between Billy and his father, who would prefer that he pursue boxing instead of ballet. Billy’s older brother, Tony, a militant union member, is also in conflict with his father who believes that his sometimes violent activism will bring harm to him. Like many brothers, Billy and Tony do not get along and they are often at odds with each other.

The sentiments in this film sometimes seem contrived and forced, but there are also instances of genuine heartfelt emotion. The Dickens-like Christmas scene, for instance, or the first time Billy vents his frustration through dance, are a bit over the top. The movie ultimately works, however, because Billy’s family supports him in something they do not totally comprehend or appreciate because they realize that it is his only hope for a better life, and ultimately a life better than their own. The film also attempts to explore social issues such as the miner’s strike, homosexuality, and the role of men in society, but less successfully.

The performances in Billy Elliot are all first-rate. Especially notable are Gary Lewis as Billy’s stern and rigid, but caring father, and Julie Walters as his chain-smoking dance instructor. Of course, Jamie Bell is also wonderful as Billy Elliot, with his inspired but unpolished dance routines, although there is more to his performance than just his dancing.

The soundtrack of Billy Elliot is disappointing. The sound is very much oriented towards the front channels with a near total absence of the surround channels. Even scenes involving crowds full of picketers or the spacious interior of the boxing hall that cry out for the use of the surround channels remain anchored in the front channels. For instance, when the piano plays in the boxing hall during the dance class, it remains in the front soundstage with little reverberation and surround ambience throughout the hall. The stereo music score is adequately recorded but lacks some depth. Thankfully, the video quality of this DVD is much better than the audio presentation. Although the picture is sometimes slightly dark, it is nicely detailed and quite sharp throughout the entire film. There is excellent shadow detail in the darker scenes, with little apparent loss of picture information. Overall, this DVD has a nice film-like appearance.

The extras provided with this disc are pretty standard fare and consist of a production feature, cast and crew biographies, production notes, theatrical trailer, and additional production notes and photos available as DVD-ROM features.

Like Billy Elliot himself, Billy Elliot the movie is a bit gangly and awkward. It has some gaps in the plot line and some of the story elements do not quite work. Even so, this slightly unpolished film has an underlying spirit and charm that, combined with a heartwarming message, make it very appealing.

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