Hard to believe that Billy Elliot is a movie that hit the big screen back in 2000 and it will celebrate its 15th anniversary this September.
Billy Elliot
Billy Elliot was another project for BBC Films and it remains one of the most successful and iconic movies that they have produced. It really is as great a movie now as it was when it was first released.
The movie marked the feature film directorial debut of Stephen Daldry - who has gone one to direct movies The Hours, and The Reader - and Billy Elliot really did kick off his moviemaking career in fine style.
Billy Elliot (Jamie Bell) is an eleven-year-old miner's son who accidentally stumbles into a ballet class while on the way to a boxing lesson. He joins the ballet class in secret knowing that his father would never understand.
Under the watchful eye of teacher Mrs Wilkinson (Julie Walters), Billy thrives and has a real dancing talent. However, when his father discovers what he has been doing he has to fight for his dreams.
Billy Elliot is a film about fulfilling your dreams and fighting for what you want in face of adversity and pressure to conform to expectations of what a young boy should be interested in.
It is a feel-good and inspirational movie that will make you laugh as often as it has the power to make you cry. But when the credits roll, it is a film that really will leave you with a big smile on your face and punching the air.
Hard to believe, but Billy Elliot marked the acting debut of then youngster Jamie Bell and director Daldry got a terrific performance from the novice actor.
Billy is one of those everyday characters that audiences can feel for and relate to and Bell just brought him to life in such a wonderful and vibrant way - fifteen years on, this remains the role for which Bell is still synonymous with.
Julie Walters also gives a terrific performance, as the teacher with a big heart whose faith pulls Billy through and helps him to aspire to more than what is expected of him.
Billy Elliot is one of the best coming of age movies to have ever graced the big screen and Daldry shows that even the simplest of stories can be captivating, inspiring, and heart-warming.
Billy Elliot remains a British classic and went on to be nominated for three Oscars as well as winning Best Actor and the Alexander Korda Award for Best British Film at the Baftas.
Tagged in BBC Billy Elliot Jamie Bell JULIE WALTERS