Billy Elliot
1984: In a northern England mining town, miners are on strike and the atmosphere is tense. Eleven-year old Billy Elliot, whose father and brother are participating in the strike, whose mother has died quite some time ago and whose grandmother is not completely aware of what's going on, doesn't like the brutal boxing lessons at school. Instead, he falls for the girls' ballet lessons. When his father finds out about this unusual love of his, Billy is in trouble. Being supported by the ballet teacher, Mrs. Wilkinson, he keeps on training secretly while the work situation as well as the problems at home get worse. Finally, Mrs. Wilkinson manages to get Billy an audition for the Royal Ballet School, but now he also has to open his heart to his family.
Billy is taken to the boxing gym by his father, but he finds out that he does not really like the sport. Part of the boxing gym is used by a ballet class because their usual studio in the basement of the sports centre is being used as a soup kitchen for the striking miners. He is drawn in by the ballet teacher (Julie Walters), and with her help, secretly starts taking ballet lessons. Billy's father finds out after the boxing teacher makes comment of Billy's absence. Billy is then forbidden to dance but continues secretly because he is becoming passionate about it.
As a consequence of Tony's arrest during a confrontation between police and striking miners, Billy misses an important audition for the Royal Ballet School. His ballet teacher goes to their house to tell his father about the missed opportunity. Billy's father and brother, fearing that Billy will be seen as a "poof," become outraged at the idea of him becoming a professional ballet dancer.
Once having accidentally seen Billy dance, however, his father realises that his son is truly gifted and is willing to do whatever it takes to help him realise his dream. He attempts to cross the picket line to pay for Billy's training, but is stopped by his older son.
Billy is taken to the boxing gym by his father, but he finds out that he does not really like the sport. Part of the boxing gym is used by a ballet class because their usual studio in the basement of the sports centre is being used as a soup kitchen for the striking miners. He is drawn in by the ballet teacher (Julie Walters), and with her help, secretly starts taking ballet lessons. Billy's father finds out after the boxing teacher makes comment of Billy's absence. Billy is then forbidden to dance but continues secretly because he is becoming passionate about it.
As a consequence of Tony's arrest during a confrontation between police and striking miners, Billy misses an important audition for the Royal Ballet School. His ballet teacher goes to their house to tell his father about the missed opportunity. Billy's father and brother, fearing that Billy will be seen as a "poof," become outraged at the idea of him becoming a professional ballet dancer.
Once having accidentally seen Billy dance, however, his father realises that his son is truly gifted and is willing to do whatever it takes to help him realise his dream. He attempts to cross the picket line to pay for Billy's training, but is stopped by his older son.