BILLY ELLIOT (2000, STEPHEN DALDRY) – TRANSITION – THE DOOR MIROSLAV HOLUB
Billy Elliot is a film set in an English town of Everington, England during the 1985 mining
strikes. The film depicts a young boy facing the challenge of overcoming traditional gender
stereotypes to pursue his love for ballet. Billy faces extreme adversity from his family and
community that hold traditional values and beliefs.
1. Ballet class scene –
Opens with Billy outside the boxing hall repetitively pushing the door, in the ring he is
hesitant to fight
Techniques:
Represents the beginning of his transition – beginning to progress into new world
Door represents a possible transition in regards to a world he is expected to be a part of
Diegetic sound of ballet music over the boxing scene shows impact music has on Billy and
creates juxtaposition between expectations and desires
Billy joins ballet class – low angle and close up shots create juxtaposition between the
ballet/boxing shoes (represents alienation)
This scene shows Billy’s own stereotypical views being challenged as he finds out ballet
appeals to him
2. Dad finds out scene –
Billy’s father Jackie discovers Billy has been taking ballet classes. Altercation follows and his
father makes comments alluding to ideas about the sexuality and masculinity regarding boys
who dance.
Techniques:
This scene highlights the challenges of transition
Converting shots create juxtaposition between the ballet dances and miners – creates stark
contrast of societies expectations and self-expression
Billy hiding ballet shoes shows hesitance to express himself
Close up shot of father highlights his anger
Cage represents barrier between the father’s world and Billy’s
Father opens cage but never steps in the room representing his rejection of Billy’s transition
Shows the fathers traditional beliefs and values being challenged by Billy’s newfound
passion for dance
3. Final scene –
Billy’s family comes to the city to watch Billy perform in a performance of Swan Lake
Techniques:
Outcomes of transition
Father transition into new world – never been to city before, feels out of place
Fathers attendance to performance expresses his acceptance of Billy’s transition and shows
a shift in his own traditional values/beliefs
Billy preparing to go on stage – low shots and close ups show his physical transition
Diegetic sound builds suspense
Performance of Swan Lake holds personal meaning and represents his transition
The father’s emotions expresses pride and acceptance of his transition
Shot of Billy leaping onto stage represents final leap into new world and highlights his
successful transition
THE DOOR – RELATED TEXT – MIROSLAV HOLUB
This poem explores the aspects of taking risk and embracing the results of transitioning
despite the uncertainties and adversity that may be faced. This poem challenges the view
that people are afraid of something new and unknown, which relates to Billy’s father and
his rejection of his son’s passions for dance due to straying from societal norms. Lack of
rhyme, rhythm and conventional structure give the poem a conversational tone.
The poem addresses that transitions may be small or large but their impacts must not be
underestimated.
Door plays a major role in both texts – ballet scene where Billy is pushing door and when
the father is behind the cage door when he finds Billy doing ballet.
1. “Go and open the door. Maybe outside there’s a tree, or a garden”
This direct imperative is used to begin multiple stanzas the repetition constructs a sense of
urgency and necessity – draws in attention and encourages action of leaving comfort zone –
relates to Billy’s father accepting his passion/ when Billy first starts dancing
The central concept of door is a dual metaphor – symbolises both a barrier and
tool/opportunity of/to transition creating a PARADOX - door as a gateway correlates with
billy overcoming obstacles of gender stereotypes – door as a barrier is the idea of
stereotypes and adversity that restricts billy
Miroslav uses visual imagery of nature, obscurity and darkness as connotations of the
positive and negative elements of transition.
Sense of hesitation/unpredictability from repetition of word ‘maybe’
Explores the different possibilities that come from transition that alter us and change our
perspectives
2. “If there’s a fog
it will clear”
Change is represented as a positive force – author shows even if there is doubt and
obstacles that are challenging (metaphor of fog as the challenges) there is reassurance that
“it will clear” and bring new perspectives and offer positive outcomes.
Relates to Billy Elliot in the adversity he faces which he overcomes to gain rewards in last
scene – strong and powerful man pursuing his dream
No matter what the doors represent it is up to the individual to pursue change/transition
and open the door
In the life of an individual various obstacles and challenges must be conquered
during thetransitions of growing up and moving into a new world. When moving
into the world, anindividual may feel the need to venture into this new path and
deviate from the customarypath, which may lead to personal experiences and
influences that have impacted the
alternation of their lives. The film “Billy Elliot”
composed by Stephen Daldry demonstratesthe journey of the eponymous
character, Billy who attempts to challenge the socially non-accepting and
oppressive times which accompanied the Thatcher
era of the miner’s strike
during 1984-85 to forge a life in the gender stereotyped world of ballet.
Similarly, the poem
“The Door” by Miroslav Holub explores aspects of
taking risks and embracing the results ofchange despite the uncertainties when
we open the [Link] into the world is the result of a need to break free
from the old world where anindividual feels restricted
in the environment they are currently in. ‘Billy Elliot’ is set in aworld during the
financially stricken and economically weakened era of the miner’s strike
.The film is set in the fictional town of Everington where the social issues of
poverty and classare highlighted. Billy lives in a world where gender stereotypes
played a role in shapingsocietal boundaries of what is socially expected
from a ‘male’. Daldry uses the
masculinesport of
‘boxing’
to represent Billy’s failure: “You’re a disgrace to them gloves, your father,and
the traditions of this boxing hall.” Billy is willing to push and
challenge the genderbarriers and expectations
by exclaiming: “I don’t wanna do boxing, I
wanna be a ballet
dancer!” A
close up
of Billy’s face along with an uplifting use
of lighting captures his passionand his secret longing to express
it. Consequently, a ripple effect is caused due to hisattempt to challenge
society. This creates conflict
within Billy’s family. Billy’
s dad, Jackyshows his discontent when he yells:
“Boys do boxing, football, wrestling, not bloody ballet!”
the use of the explicit profanities mirror, as well as accentuate societies
ferocity at Billychallenging the gender-based stereotypes which were clear
and [Link],
the poem, “The Door” by Holub, challenges the view
that people are afraidof something new and unknown. Holub presents an alternative
viewpoint: the door can bean agent of change. The poem encourages risk taking
and exploration along with thebreaking down of barriers. The door can be seen
as a dual metaphor for what restricts ourthinking as well as a gateway for
change. Holub uses the combination of repetition andimperative language
illustrated in the first lines of each stanza “Go and open the door”
which creates an emphatic tone that engages the reader to physically leave
their comfort
zone. Furthermore Holub emphasises that as an individual you shouldn’t feel
restricted but
