“Christ, Billy Elliot? You’re a disgrace to them gloves, your father and the traditions of this boxing hall!”
Theme: Femininity VS Masculinity
Non-Diegetic Sound: piano.
- Piano Music presents a paradox towards the larring accompaniment to the boxing match.
- The piano dominated all other sounds and events ongoing in the scene, alluding more to the idea that Billy was more dancing than boxing.
Close Up: Billy dancing around the boxing ring, getting punched.
- Emphasises the human experience of failure, and the start of Billy’s desire for his fathers acceptance.
Editing: camera shots switch from the girls ballet glass to the boys boxing class.
- Juxtaposition between the different classes.
- Where ballet is seen as a more feminine art and sport (graceful, quiet, gentle) where as boxing is seen more as a masculine sport (harsh, aggressive, cruel).
“Look at yourself in the mirror…go Billy!”
Theme: Overcoming self doubt
Editing: Cutting scenes of Billy practising his pirouettes in different locations.
- This shows Billy’s efforts and his self determination to overcome self doubt within something he is interested in.
- human experience of overcoming difficulties through determination and resilience.
Mid-shot + over the Shoulder shot: billy in the mirror.
- Mirrors are a motif seen within Dauldry’s 2000’s film, and is used to reflect Billy’s true passion.
- This is a result of overcoming self doubt.
“Miss I can’t do it…NO!”
Theme: Aggression due to lack of motivation
“Miss I can’t do it”
Blunt tone and quick response represents his decline in self motivation.
“NO!”
Billy yelling at Mrs. Wilkinson anger and frustration due the pressure he is exposed too, as well as his lack of motivation.
Lighting: mellow underlight.
- The cool tones of the lighting reflect the cold tension in the relationship between Billy and Mrs. Wilkinson.
Close up shots: jumping from Mrs. Wilkinson to Billy as they argue.
- Emphasises their frustrated and angry expressions.
Diegetic sound: billy falling, billy smacking the floor, billing getting slapped.
- Emphasis the physical aggression within the scene.
“He may be a fucking genius for all we know!”
“He may be a fucking genius for all we know!”
- Jackie sees potential in Billy.
- Use of swearing emphasises emotion of internal anger and guilt.
Long Shots: Jackie standing at the the mining pit.
- Expresses his internal conflict, going against the strike he believed in to give his youngest son a chance and his passion.
- Shows the inconsistencies from the beginning of the film, begins to believe his son potential to succeed.
- Drifting away from gender stereotypes and considers billy as an individual rather than comparing him to society.
Foreground/Background: Jackie walking up to the mines with Tony running towards him in the background.
- Expresses Jackie’s want to do what’s best for Billy although what he is doing is going against the common views of the time.
“Give this boy a fucking chance! Please!”
“Give this boy a fucking chance! Please!”
- Expresses Jackie’s acceptance to Billy’s talent.
- Dismissing Tony in order for Billy to live his passion.
Hand held camera: when tony approaches Jackie to stop him from crossing the picket line.
- The quick and shaky camera reflects the complexity of the relationship through their conflicting views on the strike and billy’s potential.
- Shows the rocky nature of the decision.
Non-Diegetic sound: moving and slow music.
- Contrast to the situation being shown on screen.
- Giving the scene a light hearted tone, intensifying emotions.
- Emphasises the turning point.
“I got in!”
Theme: Suspense of Acceptance
“I got in”
the simple and truncated sentence shows certainty alongside the dumbfounded tone shows a sense of relief, almost in shock as he got in.
Non-diegetic sounds:
- Soft emotional music - intensifies when billy opens the letter.
- Suspenseful and emotional music as they are waiting for the post.
- Gentle piano music as he reads the letter: gets more intense as the audience and the family are waiting in suspense for the result.
- Soundtrack, joyful and loud music, reflecting on Jackie’s boastful reaction towards billy getting into the ballet school.
Diegetic sounds:
- Mostly silence, amplifying the tension and suspense
- Billy’s heavy breathing when reading the letter.
- Tony fidgeting with the cutlery, lighting his cigarette - showing his nerves.
- The letter opening - building up to the big moment.
Close up shots: all of the Elliot’s.
- Jackie being frustrated, building up tension to know billy’s results, distracting himself.
- Close up of Jackie’s feet running - connection to billy and dancing.
Mid shots:
- most of the family anticipating for Billy’s news, shows tension.
- Billy realising he got into the ballet school, very shocked.
- Whole family in the dining room shows collective stress and apprehension - also shows how they are supporting Billy.
