Essay planning model (Billy Elliot)
1.
“You’re a disgrace to them gloves, y’r father, and the traditions of this boxing hall”. To what
extent does the film present Billy’s journey towards meaningful self-expression as a struggle
against stereotypical masculinity?
KEY WORDS

To what extent – this invites argument; the topic has a degree of significance for the film but how much?

Billy’s journey – the core of the film’s story; change in the central character from obedient father’s son
trying to fit in with a version of manhood (boxing with dad’s gloves) to an expressive and artistic soul
(professional ballet dancer)

meaningful self-expression – becoming ‘his own man’; true to himself, not to someone else’s idea of
what he should be; having a career/vocation/craft that gives meaning to life not just ‘employment’

stereotypical masculinity – a way of being male that fits a rigid stereotype: tough, violent, confronting,
unemotional, inarticulate, not expressive of emotion, defined by everything not male (which is feminised);
epitomised in the film’s context by a violent clash between a working class community and an
unsympathetic government
RESTATE and ELABORATE:
The film Billy Elliot essentially tells the story of its title character as a passage from a young boy trapped by the
expectations of his grieving father and a disintegrating community towards a new freedom of expression through
dancing. Finding his true self is largely a struggle because the conventional ways of being male which his family
and community offer him close off creative and emotional expression. While poverty and the political conflict of the
1984 miners strike also contribute to Billy’s obstacles, much of his difficulty is coloured by the rigid and narrow
choices that characterise traditional manliness.
PLAN THE ESSAY (STRUCTURE – order and subject of paragraphs)
1.
Introduction (restatement of topic and elaboration, as above)
2.
Story of title character (point of film’s title & v. Brief summary of his ‘journey’)
3.
Young boy trapped by expectations (grieving father, disintegrating family &
community)
4.
Conventional ways of being male (do what you’re told, hide emotions, be tough,
etc. – all with pertinent evidence of how film explores these features)
5. (a), etc. Freedom of expression through dancing (more detailed analysis of Billy’s
character development throughout film)
2.
6.
Other obstacles (poverty / strike – opportunity also to demonstrate how film
links Billy’s expressiveness through dance with other characters & scenes: ‘life
as dance’)
7.
Conclusion - round off and give 'food for thought'
“The film achieves a fine balance between harsh realism and sentimental optimism”. How
does Stephen Daldry use music and movement in the film to present Billy’s story in this way?
Evaluate how successful you think the film is in these regards. You may also consider other
appropriate techniques.