Billy Elliot

British film (2000), later adapted into a stage musical (2005). Set during the 1984 miners' strike, the bittersweet, warm-hearted story depicts an 11-year-old boy who yearns to be a ballet dancer but must hide his aspirations from his family and community, a traditional coalmining town in northern England. It was written by Lee Hall, directed by Stephen Daldry, and choreographed by Peter Darling. Elton John composed the musical.

The film explores the incompatibility between a young boy's dream and his traditional working-class culture. Billy's widowed father, who along with his brother is part of the Durham coalminers' strike, struggles to provide for the family and has aspirations to a boxing career for Billy. Billy discovers ballet and secretly trains while the atmosphere at home becomes more and more tense. After his dance teacher manages to secure him an audition for the Royal Ballet School, his family finally rallies to support him.

The film stars Jamie Bell (1986– ) in the title role, together with Gary Lewis (1958– ) as his father, Jamie Draven (1979– ) as his brother and Julie Walters as his dance teacher. The stage production won several awards for best British musical, including the Evening Standard Award, the Critics' Circle Theatre Award, and the Theatre Goers' Choice Award (all in 2005), as well as four Laurence Olivier Awards (2006).