Essay 1

Stephen Daldry’s film Billy Elliot is a film that highlights the struggles and opportunities that
arise in an individual’s everyday life. Billy is living in a society where ‘football, boxing or
wrestling’ are the typical masculine activities a boy could participate in. Although Billy finds
himself interested in ballet, but is faced with many obstacles including the society he lives
in, his family’s lack of support and his family’s financial situation. Throughout the film Daldry
uses music to support the meaning and mood of each scene.

The non-diegetic music played in the scenes with the police and strikers was ‘London
Calling’ by The Clash as it represents anger and discontent. The fact that Billy’s father and
brother were miners on a strike adds to the difficulty of gaining their support to attend the
London Royal Ballet School. The music emphasizes the tension and aggravation of the
situation and identifies how serious Billy’s family is struggling financially. This is a major
obstacle for Billy as even with the struggle to gain his family support, it is not enough to
make his dream come true.

Before Billy gained his father and brothers support he was faced with many confronting
experiences. His father was paying 50 pence for him to attend boxing classes although he
didn’t particularly thrive in boxing. Billy found himself being knocked to the ground by an
opponent and as he lay on the ring floor, non-diegetic music played over the scene
capturing his intriguing stare towards the ballet dancers. The sounds exaggerate the scene
and cause the audience to stop and be captured, feeling the same experience as Billy did.

Although he was facing many adversities, especially in boxing class being called ‘a disgrace
to them gloves, your father and the traditions of this boxing hall’, he was on the verge of a
transformation. It was at this moment that Billy knew there was something special about
the ballet and that he was intrigued by it. This is reinforced in the following scene where
George gives him the keys to hand to Mrs Wilkinson and orders him to stay back and
practice hitting the bag. As Billy was doing this he was once again attracted to the diegetic
music of the dancers at practice and began to move in sync with the swinging boxing bag
and the music. Although Billy was faced with an obstacle and a negative experience in
boxing class, an opportunity flourished from his after class punishment and he began to join
ballet classes instead of attending boxing with the 50 pence his father would give him.

As Billy begins to attend the ballet lessons the audience begin to see a transformation in his
spirit and everyday mood. Billy begins to feel satisfaction, excitement and rebelliousness.
The song ‘Get It On (Bang a Gong)’ by the T Rex begins to play and continues throughout the
next few scenes of Billy at school, looking in the mirror with a new sense of self respect, and
on the cross country run taking a detour into a tunnel under the bridge. The music and the
scene reflect the rebelliousness and this transformational nature that Billy has experienced
since joining the ballet lessons. This sense of rebelliousness and transformation is reinforced
in the scene where Billy visits the Durham Country Library Bus. He steals a book about ballet
by putting it down his pants as the librarian is distracted. This scene reinforces the change in
Billy’s attitude as the thrill and rebelliousness he feels is highlighted in the background
music.

It is then in the next scene that the audience notice that the song begins to fade out as Billy
makes his way up the staircase to the practice hall. This warns the audience that his thrilling
nature will not last long and that he will soon face an obstacle. The following scenes show
Billy doubting his abilities and turning his positive and exhilarating attitude into a weak and
negative one. Mrs Wilkinson pushes him to learn a difficult pirouette and he is doubtful as
he is struggling to make the turn. It is here that the audience appreciate and understand the
role that diegetic and non-diegetic music plays in complementing the themes of the film.

As in Billy Elliot, the text Midnight Train to Georgia identifies that there are obstacles and
opportunities in every individual’s life. Everyone’s journey may be unique, but it is a
universal thing to experience obstacles and transformations due to the experiences in your
life. The song composed by Jim Weatherly has a voice of a woman whose partner
experiences a negative transition. The composer has used symbolism through the title and
main aspect of the song. The simple use of ‘midnight’ train itself expresses a sense of
obstacle or adversity. The slouching time of midnight highlights that the transition or
journey to Georgia is going to be a long and difficult one. It also shows that the transition
may not be welcomed as it is being delayed to midnight. This also fits in well with the mood
of the music as it has a smooth tempo and rhythm. The song does not have a rock or pop
genre, it is quite calm which emphasises the unknown journey of what may come ahead.

The man that is being sung about was originally from Georgia and travelled to Los Angeles
with a dream to become a ‘superstar’. He finds himself looking grip of his dreams and facing
reality where he is heading back home to a ‘simpler place and time’. His transition to Los
Angeles was not a positive experience for him as things did not go to plan, although he met
a devoted women ‘who’s gonna be right by his side”. Although this transition has been a
negative one for the musician, it has transformed him. He met a woman who supports his
dream and would ‘rather live in his world than live without him’. Although it has been a
challenging transition for the two of them a positive opportunity has occurred. Now they are
both on a journey to transition back to Georgia where she will stay by his side and they can
build a life together in a place he knew not so long ago.

Essay 2
The film ‘Billy Elliot’ directed by Stephen Daldry highlights the obstacles and opportunities
individuals face in their everyday lives. Billy transitions from a society where ‘football, boxing or
wrestling’ are the typical masculine activities a boy would participate in. Billy finds a passion in the
ballet and is faced with the lack of acceptance and support from his family and the community he
lives in. The statement ‘In our life journeys, there are often as many obstacles as there are
opportunities’ is particularly relevant in this film as Billy Elliot’s journey is one which produces a
particular path into the future for the character as the obstacles and opportunities he endures lead
him to an unimaginable place.

At the beginning of the film the audience is introduced to Billy’s family. The structure of the film
allows the audience to lean towards a particular interpretation of the characters; specifically his
brother Tony and father Jackie. Billy’s father Jackie leaves Billy with 50 pence to attend boxing class,
although Billy does not particularly thrive in boxing. He finds himself being knocked to the floor by
his opponent during training and looks up to see the ballet dancers rehearsing. Coach George turns
to him yelling ‘Jesus Christ, Billy Elliot! You're a disgrace to them gloves, your father, and the
traditions of this boxing hall!’ Billy was told to stay back after boxing was over to practice his swings
on the punching bag.

George left the keys with him to pass onto the ballet teacher Mrs Wilkinson who is still using the hall
for ballet. It is here that an opportunity arises. He is intrigued by the music and the movement of the
ballet and begins to move in sync with the movement of the boxing bag. He decides to join Mrs
Wilkinson’s class and continues to attend ballet practice with the 50 pence his father gave him
instead of the boxing class as his father intended.

Billy was given the opportunity to attend ballet lessons with Mrs Wilkinson who sees potential in him
to develop his posture, stamina and technique. The classes were done in secrecy as his family, and
many in society did not support men in the ballet. It was sexist and he was laughed at and abused by
his father when he found out. His father said was against the ballet saying it was a thing for ‘poofs’
and that it was ‘All right for your Nana, for girls. No, not for lads’, He abused him physically and
verbally as he said ‘I'm bustin' my ass for those 50 pences … from now on you stay here and look out
for your Nana’. This was a difficult time for Billy as it was an enormous obstacle in the way of his
dream, passion and what like a natural escape to him.

Billy often struggled with no background in ballet. He found himself giving up, and even at one point
swearing at his dance teacher and insulting her. These obstacles temporarily interfered with his
passion although he pushed passed it and continued to get up and practice as much as he could.
Each time he failed or felt like giving up Mrs Wilkinson pushed him. She would remind him to ‘Find a
place on that bloody wall and focus on that spot. Then whip your head 'round and come back to that
spot. Prepare!’ This stuck with Billy as the audience sees him in a number of scenes practicing at
home in his room and in the bathroom repeating ‘Prepare, Prepare’.
Although Billy continues to work hard for his goals he did not receive his fathers support or
acceptance. He was let down although he was passionate and didn’t give up. Once evening he took
Michael to the hall and showed him how to dance. He was caught by his father and some of his
friends.

Billy showed his passion and overcame this obstacle by breaking out in a dance and leaving his father
in awe. There was tension and it was a difficult situation although Billy’s response opened up an
opportunity when his father rushed off to Mrs Wilkinson’s house. He asked her about the Royal
School of Ballet and the opportunity available to Billy. Now with his fathers support Billy was
presented with an opportunity to apply for the ballet school in London. Although once again he
faced a financial obstacle and his father did everything in his power to ensure Billy made it to his
rehearsal in London.

As in Billy Elliot, the text Midnight Train to Georgia identifies that there are obstacles and
opportunities in every experience. In the song composed by Jim Weatherly, the voice is a woman
whose partner experiences a negative transition. The composer has used symbolism through the
title and main aspect of the song. The simple use of ‘midnight’ train itself expresses a sense of
obstacle or adversity. The slouching time of midnight highlights that the transition or journey to
Georgia is going to be a long and difficult one. It also shows that the transition may not be welcomed
as it is being delayed to midnight.

The man was originally from Georgia and travelled to Los Angeles with a dream to become a
‘superstar’. It was unfortunate that his dreams did not come true and he is heading back home to a
‘simpler place and time’. His transition was not a positive experience for him as things did not go to
plan, although he met a devoted woman who is determined to stick by his side. This is evident by
“when he takes that ride, guess who’s gonna be right by his side”. Although this transition has been
a negative one for the musician, it has brought about an amazing opportunity. He met a supportive
and devoted woman who would ‘rather live in his world than live without him in mine’. Although it
has been a challenging transition for the two of them a positive opportunity has occurred. Now they
are both on a journey to transition back to Georgia where she will stay by his side and they can build
a life together in a place he knew not so long ago.

It is clear from the texts discussed that as individuals go through life they experience journeys filled
with endless obstacles and opportunities and it is the reaction determination of an individual that
leads their journey to a specific path.