Billy Elliot Transition
Exploring Transitions emphasises the importance of finding the balance between the needs of individuals and the needs of a wider community.
As an individual explores transitions and looks to venture into new experiences there can be an upheaval of the equilibrium. A wider community can be impacted upon when a member of that group chooses to explore their options, for whatever purpose. In Billy Elliot, a film directed by Stephen Daldry in 2000, Billy’s challenging and exciting foray into the world of ballet has consequences for him, his family, and the wider community of Everington. This transition not only leads to a deepened understanding of himself, it also sees a shift in attitudes and beliefs in his family and town. Similarly, in the poem …show more content…
Everington is a place divided; families struggle to make ends meet, police rule by force, men are out of work. Billy’s family is representative of this conflict, however Billy seeks to challenge this role he has been prescribed to by pursuing a career in ballet. It is established in the opening sequence that Billy is an energetic and alternative protagonist whose interest and demeanour distinguish him from the stereotypical men in his family and neighbourhood. It is during the opening sequence that we first notice Billy’s passion for dance, which is exhibited through a series of slow motion mid-shots, revealing different parts of Billy’s body including his feet hands and face as he jumps on a bed to T-Rex Cosmic Dancer with the lyrics “I was dancing when I was 12…” Billy’s facial expressions confirm the sense of elation and physical freedom he feels when moving to music. Daldry implies that billy needs to venture into the world of dance if he wants to transition into a new phase of life potentially resulting in growth, change and a range of consequences for not only Billy but also his family and the
As an individual explores transitions and looks to venture into new experiences there can be an upheaval of the equilibrium. A wider community can be impacted upon when a member of that group chooses to explore their options, for whatever purpose. In Billy Elliot, a film directed by Stephen Daldry in 2000, Billy’s challenging and exciting foray into the world of ballet has consequences for him, his family, and the wider community of Everington. This transition not only leads to a deepened understanding of himself, it also sees a shift in attitudes and beliefs in his family and town. Similarly, in the poem …show more content…
Everington is a place divided; families struggle to make ends meet, police rule by force, men are out of work. Billy’s family is representative of this conflict, however Billy seeks to challenge this role he has been prescribed to by pursuing a career in ballet. It is established in the opening sequence that Billy is an energetic and alternative protagonist whose interest and demeanour distinguish him from the stereotypical men in his family and neighbourhood. It is during the opening sequence that we first notice Billy’s passion for dance, which is exhibited through a series of slow motion mid-shots, revealing different parts of Billy’s body including his feet hands and face as he jumps on a bed to T-Rex Cosmic Dancer with the lyrics “I was dancing when I was 12…” Billy’s facial expressions confirm the sense of elation and physical freedom he feels when moving to music. Daldry implies that billy needs to venture into the world of dance if he wants to transition into a new phase of life potentially resulting in growth, change and a range of consequences for not only Billy but also his family and the