A Theme of Overcoming Adversity in The Film 'Billy Eliot'

Very telling cinematic representations of adversity are highlighted more often than not in the film ‘Billy Elliot’. This broader understanding throughout the film will undoubtedly shift the audiences way of thinking, whether by exposing them to ‘new ideas’ and practices or inspiring an assessment of the ‘self’. Steven Daldry employs visual techniques to help the viewer consider deeper thoughts about how society accepts things that are usually looked upon as “not right” like homosexuality. Adversity can be overcome by Billy Elliot in the pursuit of his dreams and by the collective to show that people can have a good impact on society. The conflict and love in a father-son relationship can act as a limitation or blessing when trying to transition. The hardships for a person of difference to live in a world with oppressive rule and judgement towards them is frightening. These dramatic events act as important signs of human perseverance in a film to challenge the audience's understanding of achievement through sacrifice and determination.

Cinematic representations of adversity can become a character’s door to success or lead them to nowhere. Conflict and love in a father-son relationship can act as a barrier or benefit when striving to progress. There is a constant lack of communication and understanding between Jackie and Billy throughout the film. A scene shows the two together with neither one speaking. The technique represented here is the absence of dialogue. This is seen as a strong barrier to communication between father and son. A technique of camera close-ups of eye contact is used in this scene too. Billy in all this has expressed his love and passion of dance to the one demeanour that can potentially make or break this, his dad. After watching Billy dance, his love for his son overcomes his disapproval and he now supports Billy’s aspired dream. This shows Jackie’s turning point in the film and transition of the ‘self’. And before this, we knew Jackie had a hard time expressing his emotions because he came from a place of hurt. He was disciplined under the rule of toxic masculinity which shaped who he was. For him to make that change for his son is moving and morally justified. Therefore, the actions of conflict and love in father-son relationships can act as both a limitation or blessing when striving to transition. This teaches the audience that love can be misplaced. Relationships will clash because of conflicting ideas and beliefs. Jackie was able to change into a loving fatherly figure allowing Billy to transition.

Oppressive rules enforced by people in charge can force an individual to strive through extreme measures. The influence of society’s standards and judgement can act as a barrier to individuals when attempting to make a transition. A technique of lighting is used in the hall of dim lights where Billy is practising to dance. This sheds light on the secrecy Billy finds himself in when wanting to dance and on how a society that enforces compliance forces differences to hide. This speaks volumes on how a dictated society can become a barrier for change as individuals who look to transition are being rejected making it seem impossible. This perception can be furthered through a scene of people talking to Jackie about Billy’s buffoonery in the gym and then when Jackie’s mate warns of seeing Billy up to something in the gym. This shows the growing stigma of the judge mentality of traditional society that instils fear to individuals. With financial pressures of the miners’ protests this deeply affects Billy, his father and the community. Consequently, society’s standards and judgement can become an obstacle to individuals when seeking to transition. This teaches the audience that being judgmental of other people is morally wrong and that instead, they should learn to accept them.

One of Daldry's possible main focuses in the storytelling of Billy Elliot is the continuing dissociation he places Billy against the challenging authority of his family values.

Then the fumed riots against the inflexible ‘Thatcherite government’. Billy is a talented dancer struggling to overcome societal implications that restrict himself and a large portion of his community from doing much in their lives. Through a range of visual techniques, the viewers can break down these human experiences and passively relate to them when seeing the juxtaposition of Billy’s individual growth in ballet and the violence of his collective community, the miners. The conflicting forces of miners rioting are highlighted through close crowd shots of the camera. It captures their stricken outcries of anger and animosity towards the Union as they come together as a people of the community. When people are forced under an umbrella of laws, and they’ve had enough, they will retaliate. It is apparent that the teacher, Mrs Wilkinson is trying to help Billy express himself to start shaping his distinctive identity. Whilst Mrs Wilkinson is supposed to be nurturing Billy’s talent as a teacher, she rarely compliments. From this it's seen, relationships are complex. People express emotions differently and are motivated by different circumstances. This encapsulates the idea that areas of adversity can be overcome by Billy Elliot and the goodness of people that feel the need for change.

In conclusion, audiences can quickly note that some people must be challenged to move beyond barriers to succeed. It is correct that the actions of conflict and love in father-son relationships can act as both a limitation or blessing when striving to transition. Society’s standards and judgement can become an obstacle to individuals when seeking to transition. And finally, the idea that areas of adversity can be overcome by Billy Elliot and the goodness of people that feel the need for change. These issues of adversity are taken head-on and explain a workable reflection to an audience’s transitions into new profound outlooks and experiences. Even if viewers can’t relate to any of this, they can take this shared experience and spread it through virtuous lengths.