I will state that like in Caroline Or Change and Fiddler on the Roof, I always love those stories that give a simple (possibly cliche plot) that are paralleled with an event occuring. Here, it is the struggles of coal miners and a Billy Elliot. I enjoy spectale, but when it gets too empathized, it smothers the plot. The "Expressing Yourself" sequence is an example. Yes, comedy moments, yes I do love it. A scene of two boys- one innocently gay and one straight- experimenting around, great scene. But then the spectale becomes terribly blatant once giant dresses and pants come out to dance. The only needed spectale is the boys' dancing, nothing else but that. And among the first distracting scenes is the "Shine" sequence. The song is fun and we see Billy implicitly acquainting to the idea of dancing, but the song drags on and does nothing but showcase the Mrs. Wilkinson (Faith Prince).
"Solidarity," Billy takes his lessons. The police force under Margaret Thatcher attempt to control the protesting coal miners as Billy and girls take their class. There is a moment of coal-miners fathers dancing with their daughters at class: represents gender expectations and the dance with personal life. Coal miners and police dispute, the very conflict that drives Billy's frustration and passion.
Then we are struck with the "Angry Dance." Along with "Solidarity," a murder. A murder to choregraph. After "Dear Billy (Billy's Reply)," one empty chair stands out among the other empty chairs.
Then the external and internal conflicts clash when Father swallows his pride and cease his strikes to earn little money to give his son the opportunity. Billy succeeds his audition. But the coal miners slip poorer, their cause becomes hopeless. Within the year Billy returns home for summer from Ballet School, he will find worst conditions. The coal miners' efforts are futile against a great force and receive no rights. But because the coal miners refuse to be the great force that would steal Billy's rights to dance, Billy's efforts are valued and he ventures off with his rights.
Billy Elliot Shines!
I will state that like in Caroline Or Change and Fiddler on the Roof, I always love those stories that give a simple (possibly cliche plot) that are paralleled with an event occuring. Here, it is the struggles of coal miners and a Billy Elliot. I enjoy spectale, but when it gets too empathized, it smothers the plot. The "Expressing Yourself" sequence is an example. Yes, comedy moments, yes I do love it. A scene of two boys- one innocently gay and one straight- experimenting around, great scene. But then the spectale becomes terribly blatant once giant dresses and pants come out to dance. The only needed spectale is the boys' dancing, nothing else but that. And among the first distracting scenes is the "Shine" sequence. The song is fun and we see Billy implicitly acquainting to the idea of dancing, but the song drags on and does nothing but showcase the Mrs. Wilkinson (Faith Prince).
"Solidarity," Billy takes his lessons. The police force under Margaret Thatcher attempt to control the protesting coal miners as Billy and girls take their class. There is a moment of coal-miners fathers dancing with their daughters at class: represents gender expectations and the dance with personal life. Coal miners and police dispute, the very conflict that drives Billy's frustration and passion.
Then we are struck with the "Angry Dance." Along with "Solidarity," a murder. A murder to choregraph. After "Dear Billy (Billy's Reply)," one empty chair stands out among the other empty chairs.
Then the external and internal conflicts clash when Father swallows his pride and cease his strikes to earn little money to give his son the opportunity. Billy succeeds his audition. But the coal miners slip poorer, their cause becomes hopeless. Within the year Billy returns home for summer from Ballet School, he will find worst conditions. The coal miners' efforts are futile against a great force and receive no rights. But because the coal miners refuse to be the great force that would steal Billy's rights to dance, Billy's efforts are valued and he ventures off with his rights.