MovieChat Forums > Billy Elliot (2000) Discussion > Do Americans Like This?

Do Americans Like This?

posted 17 years ago by thependragon-1
89 replies | jump to latest

Just wondered whether anyone from the US likes Billy Elliot when it is so British in both it's storyline and use of music. I remember a friend from the US telling me that he had no idea what the minor's strike was and that he had never even heard of T-Rex. It's a shame that one of the most influental bands of 70s didn't have more success in America. As for the movie in my opinion it's one of the most cleverly put together British films that's been made in recent years but still didn't manage to pick up an Academy Award.

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[–] JaneSchmo 16 years ago

Can I confess something? I'm American and I had never heard of the minors' strike before this movie. Not even in high school when we were learning about Margaret Thatcher and her policies- or maybe it actually was touched on and I have long since forgotten it.

Well, now I know, huh?

And I had no idea T-Rex ever existed, either.

It's an ok movie. I'd give it three stars out of four. Liked it alot, didn't love it.

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[–] beaubrummie 16 years ago

The Minor's strike was almost civil war,the government used the police to break up an industrial dispute & then closed the mining industry down. This condemned thousands of people to a life on the dole & whole communities were destroyed.
The Tory government used police & military personal against British workers who had legitimate grievances,if Robert Mugabe did the same the world would condemn him.
Never trust a Tory,in fact don't trust any politician,the most grubby life form on the planet.

[–] JaneSchmo 16 years ago

Why was this such a big deal, though? Over here, Ronald Reagan's administration was responsible for weakening alot of unions and alot of measures that were bad for labor in general and- as pretty messed up as it was-it's not strongly remembered now.

Well, that's probably comparing apples and oranges. The PACTO strike only pertained to 13,000 striking workers. The coal mining industry in the UK is presumably larger than that.

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[–] CATLADYx7 16 years ago

I saw this movie yesterday on TV for the first time. As an American I absolutely love this movie!!

[–] lee-noaddedsugar 16 years ago

That is a very complicated question to answer as there's many reasons for why it was such a big deal so I'll try to simplify it. British culture is far more class driven than American, we therefore have more of a history of socialism and left wing politics which looked after the interests of the high percentage of working class. Thatcherism, which was right wing, marked the end of this. The threat of closing down the mines meant the trade unions started the strikes which ultimatly failed and showed the lack of powers the trade unions ultimatly had and marked an end to working class representation.
The aftermath of this meant that not only were people out of jobs and money, but entire towns and regions were destroyed economically and these towns are still destroyed which you can see in Billy Elliot, those weren't sets (I live in County Durham, where the film is set). It also put a massive gap between the classes and the north and south divide and so it is seen as a significant turning point in class politics.

[–] yfguitarist 16 years ago

My brother and I think it's great. It introduced me to T.Rex.

[–] angelofvic 16 years ago

I'm American; I'm well aware of the mining counties and the miners strike. I've seen KES and loved it. But I saw BILLY ELLIOT just now and I thought it was just one long fairly sappy and slow-moving cliche, until the end, which I liked. I gave it a 6/10. I gave KES 10/10.
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[–] 16 years ago

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[–] mommascara 16 years ago

I am an American who loves British films! I just watched Billy Elliot and loved it, loved it. I am not familiar with the miner's strike in '84 but I don't think that knowledge is necessary to enjoying and being touched by the movie. That one can rise above one's circumstances is a common thread that flows through most societies. That one can find beauty in dark times is as well.

The last scene took my breath away, much in the same way that it did Billy's father.

[–] artistathome 16 years ago

i rented this not long after it went to DVD. I loved it, but at the time I did not watch it captioned, which was stupid.

Just recently I watched with captions and I realize how many lines I missed. The accents are such a problem for American audiences so captioning helped.
One line I loved was when the dad asks Tony if he noticed anything weird with Billy and Tony, said "What are you like looking for a list?" Very funny.

This is one of my all time favorite movies. I think it's wonderful.

why shouldn't Americans love a movie like this one? I cried at the end.
At the end when they are going to see Swan Lake, when the main dancer was Billy, I was totally blown away. I figure he was 18-20 by then. he looked young but an adult.

As for the miner's strike. I vaguely remember that but many things like that happen here. Especially in the auto industry. I am sure it is worse in a socialist system like UK. Britain is not unique in having towns fall apart due to an industry failing...

[–] Myth-and-Mayhem 15 years ago

Oh my god yes.

YES! YES! YES!!

"Hustling jalapeno dips to the apple seeds. Go on... Dismissed. Dismissed!"

[–] angelbcol 15 years ago

I'm American and I LOOOOOVE this movie.