Set during the miners' strike in 1984 Billy Elliott's (Bell) dad (Lewis) and brother (Draven) are manning the picket lines. When Billy becomes interested in the ballet lessons, neither his father nor his brother is impressed. His dad bans him from the lessons, but Billy manages to continue behind his back with the help of his dance teacher, Mrs Wilkinson (Walters). Billy Elliott is a remarkable film. A cleverly balanced script by Lee Hall and deft direction by Stephen Daldry raise it above its generic roots into something quite special.