Krista Liebe
Special to the Tribune
This coming Friday, Dec. 15, the Williams Lake Film Club will screen its last film of the season at the Central Cariboo Arts Centre at 7 p.m. Doors open at 6:30 p.m.
Billy Elliot had been a surprise hit after its release in the year 2000 and took off to become a hit all around the globe, first the film and then as a musical which ran until 2016. The music for that was written by Elton John.
Back to the film which started it all. It tells the story of 11-year old Billy Elliot who lives in England in the county of Durham. Times are hard in this mining town during the endless, violent 1984/85 strike against the Thatcher government’s closure of British coal mines. Billy’s father and older brother are heavily involved in this strike and they want Billy to also become a tough fighting man. To take up boxing is certainly the right thing to do. But Billy discovers quickly that boxing really is not his thing, that he instead is drawn to ballet. The class is attended by girls only and their teacher is the incomparable Julie Walters, bored out of her mind teaching these young slightly uninspired girls. Then she meets Billy, a boy of the labour class, full of passion and hard to describe convictions. He has his dreams, and after some hard work his teacher judges him talented enough for private lessons and finally to train and try out for the world-renowned Royal Ballet audition.
Julie Walters is outstanding, as always. Jamie Bell plays Billy Elliot and is totally convincing in his first film role. All the roles are cast so well that the characters pull you right along. You laugh with them, you cry with them, and you will probably never forget the last scene … Well, you will probably remember the whole movie as one of the best you have seen.
Billy Elliot is a British comedy/drama and was shot in Ellington Colliery, Northumberland, England. It runs for 110 minutes. It is rated G in Canada, a film for the family.
After the film we will have our Christmas gathering with some of your favourite Christmas baking. Remember to bring some!
We will also offer tea, hot chocolate, Ovaltine and our very popular hot mulled organic Apple Cider made with German Glühwein spices. It is totally kid friendly – and so yummy! This is all included in your admission, adults regular $10, Film Club members $8, seniors (65+) and students, High School and TRU, $6, kids between 10-14 food donation only. All proceeds are used to support the WL Tutoring Services to help children with learning problems to obtain one-on-one tutoring.
And please, bring something for the Food Bank as this is our last film before Christmas and we want to share even more the Christmas cheer with our community. See you on Friday.