Billy Elliot

I really like the scene around minute 24:00. We see the true contrast between Billy and the strikers. The boundaries of masculinity are pushed to the limit here because the change in scene is so drastic. At one moment, we see Billy in his ballet class surrounded by little girls and Ms. Wilkinson. It is a serene environment with peaceful piano music playing in the background as Billy and the other girls practice their dance routine. Then in the next moment, we see Billy’s dad and boxing teacher at the strike. They are gathered in a mob-like form to protest a bus-full of people going to work in the mines. The men in the crowd are dirty and loud miners who portray the traditional image of masculinity; they are being physically restrained by the police, which plays up the idea that men are extremely physical. Both the visual scene and the audible sounds are also darker than what we see in the gym. There is less light and there are police sirens blaring in the background.