CONTEXT

Billy Elliots world is very different to the one in which we live

today. It is difficult to fully understand the struggles that the
miners faced during the Coal Miners Strike in Northern
England, however it is thoroughly reflected through Daldrys
use of imagery.
Example from Billy: The story shows how the son of one of
these miners overcomes social prejudice to make his dream of
being a ballet dancer come true. Narrow streets with rows of
houses on either side symbolise the restrictive nature of the
lives of its inhabitants. Even in the first scene, in a low angle
shot, we see Billy finding his mother in the countryside and
notice the police as an oppressive presence.

THEMES
THEME: Coming of age and self-discovery: Billy Elliot explores the growth and change of a
pre-adolescent boy and his own discovery and acceptance of the fact that he is different
from other boys of the same age.
Example from Billy: Billy is hesitant to enter the boxing hall, as he acknowledges his desire to
fit in and embody what type of boy he is expected to be, but dreams for more. In this scene,
another boy enters the hall and pushes Billy out of the way aggressively; reinforcing the idea
that Billy is already an outsider. The swinging door then represents the barrier between
Billy and the world that he is expected to be a part of.
YOUR Example from Billy:
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THEME: Fulfilling ones dreams: Billys initiation into adolescence faces him with the
challenge of standing up for his beliefs and dreams regardless of his social and economic
background and the expectations of society.
Example from Billy: Just like Billy, the miners aim for something better and this is depicted
through a montage of shots displaying parallel yet opposing scenes. The images of miners
juxtaposed against the young ballet dancers shows how each group is expressing
themselves differently and attempting to reach their aims. Overhead shots of the miners
violently pushing forward are juxtaposed with shots of Billy and the girls dancing gracefully
within the studio.
YOUR Example from Billy:
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RELATIONSHIPS: The father-son relationship: Two generations clash due to their conflicting
views of life, gender roles and the future. Lads do football, boxing, or wrestling not
friggin ballet! complains Jackie when he learns that his son wants to be a ballet dancer.
However, as Billy finds the courage to rebel and shows his talent to Jackie, the father
overcomes his prejudices and decides to support him at any cost.
YOUR Example from Billy:
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THEME: Gender and class issues: Billy Elliot presents class stereotypes exploring diverse
socio-political realities. The Elliots represent the hardships of working-class miners during
the mid-eighties in Northern England; the Wilkinsons reflect how the middle class is
practically unaffected by such political developments in spite of being the victims of
unemployment as well, and posh Londoners at the Royal Ballet School show how the upper
class remains indifferent to what is happening at the time.
YOUR Example from Billy:
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In addition, Billy Elliot questions gender stereotypes. Billy must struggle against society and
his own family, since it is generally believed that ballet is either for girls or for gay boys. Both
his father and brother are shocked when they find out that Billy prefers ballet to boxing and
that his best friend, Michael, is probably gay. But Billy never gives up and succeeds in
challenging all stereotypes and getting support not only from his family but also from his
community.
YOUR Example from Billy:
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