BILLY ELLIOT

Watch the sequence. Where do the scenes take place ?
The place in general : The R_ _ _ _  B_ _ _ _ _  in L_ _ _ _ _.
The different places :  outside and inside the a_ _ _ _ _ _n  room / in the c_ _ _ _ _ _ g-r_ _ _ / in the consulting-room with the d_ _ _ _ r

Who are the main characters ? .....................................................

How do the people feel ?

• outside the audition room : answer the questions with short and complete sentences.

Do Billy and his father feel in the right place ? ………………………………………………………
Does Billy feel at ease ? ...………………………………………………………………………………………
Does he want to stay ? ………………………………………………………………………………………….
What does his father do ? ……………………………………………………………………………………..

• inside the audition room. Complete the text with the given words : breathe - impressed - panic-stricken - paralysed

Billy is so ………………………, …………………………. ,…………………………..
in front of these solemn tutors that he can’t ………………………..
unable      does not dance      awkward      confidence
He feels …………………………. and ………………………………………… very well.
He is …………………………… to show what he can do because he has lost ………………

• Back in the changing-room and in the audition room. Circle the right answer.

Billy is so exhausted / pleased  that he is about  to burst into tears / to burst into laughing.
He is   happy / disappointed  and  glad / cross since he realizes he has  succeeded / failed and wasted his time.
A boy tries   to make fun of him / to comfort him , sympathize with him / to laugh at him  but Billy  punches him in the face / gives him a big hug.
He is  congratulated / told off  for his violent behaviour.
Both father and son are  fired / interviewed.

Listen to the interview. What rules of the school are mentioned ?

..................................................................................................

Complete the question to Billy : “ Why  ….  you first  ……….  .. ballet ?”
         
Complete the question to the father : “  ….  you a  …  of the ballet ?”

Complete the father’s answer: “ No,  …  ……  . I  ..  …  an  ……  .”

Tutor’s final remark : “ Are you completely  ……  Billy ?

Father’s answer : “Yes,  ..  ……  .”

What is Billy’s behaviour ? What is his father’s behaviour ? Write B or F next to the sentences.

- He is intimidated, at a loss for words.
- He is supportive.
- He feels uneasy, tense, uncomfortable.
- He does his best to look and sound convinced.
- He is worried about what his father might say.
- He does not let him down.
- He has accepted his passion.

There is a strong c_ _ _ _ _ _t between the son’s and his father’s attitude.

Here is the last question asked before Billy leaves : “ What does it feel like when you are dancing ?
Listen to Billy and pick out the key-words in his answer : ………………………………………………………………..

According to you, why is it so difficult for Billy to speak ? …………………………………………………………………

How do you call the literary device he uses to speak about his passion ? :

a m_ _ _ _ _ _ _ .

Look at the pictures again and concentrate on the faces so as to explain the evolution of the tutor’s reaction.

At first he …………………………………………… but little by little he ……………………………….

Watch the end of the sequence and say whether you think Billy has got a chance to enter the Royal Academy or not. Justify your point of view giving some clues.

……………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………

Teacher : What’s that ?

Billy : It’s a letter

T : I can see it’s a letter !

B : It’s my mum's. She wrote it for when I was 18 but I opened it. Here.

T : (reading) To my son Billy. Dear Billy . I almost seem just like a distant memory to you which is probably a good thing. It’s been a long time, I have missed you growing, just crying, laughing, shouting.

B : (saying it by heart) I’ve missed you telling me off but please know I was always there with you through everything. I’ll always be there. And I’m proud to have known you. And I’m proud that you were mine. Always be yourself. I love you for ever.

T : She must have been a very special person, your mother.

B : No, she was just my mum.
     I brought you a tape.

T : What is it ?

B : I love to Boogie.

Fill in the blanks.
Which sentence could be Billy’s motto ?

From ballet teacher(« 1,2,3… ») to father( « go out »)

A - At the gym
Choose the right words underlined and circle them.

Billy is on the right / on the left / in the middle of the dancers.
He is in harmony / not in harmony    with the others.
This pleasant atmosphere is broken by the pianist’s melody / his father’s intrusion.

Billy freezes / laughs with surprised. He is pleased / terrified.
He feels at ease / can’t believe his eyes.

His father looks   friendly / out of his mind.
He looks sympathetic / mad with rage.

The little girls are under the shock / welcome Billy’s father.
They look   reassured / frightened.
They see him as an intruder / a friend.
They find him ridiculous and they keep quiet / giggle

What about the teacher ? She ……………………………………………………………………..

Circle the best title corresponding to the sequence :
Peaceful training / Warm welcome / Broken harmony

B - Back home

Step in 4ème, Page 131. Analyser ou commenter une scène de film.
A faire lire et à garder à l’esprit.

Concentrate on the pictures and on the movements of the camera.  The scene looks like a duel.

Compare the father’s attitude and his son’s attitude. There is a c……t.
Here are some clues concerning either Billy or his father, complete the sentences.

BILLY

determined / self-controlled / ready to answer back / and to defend himself 

FATHER

determined / so outraged / that he stammers / mad with rage / out of his wits

Billy looks …………………………………………………………………………

His father is ……………………………………………………… He is……………………………….

Listen to the conflict between father and son.

Who says the following sentences ? Write either B for Billy or F for his father.

“Lads do football or boxing or wrestling, not ballet.” : ...
“What’s wrong about it ?” : ...
“Normal ?” : ...
“ I don’t see what’s wrong with ballet.” : ...
“It’s perfectly normal.” : ...
“For your nana, for girls, not for lads…” : ...

Write a short paragraph using :
disagree / sticks to stereotypes / narrow-minded / blinkers / short of arguments / uses violence

Find two other words meaning “poofs” : ……………………. / ………………………

Can you explain why Billy loses his self-control, becomes violent and abuses (insults ) his father saying : “ I hate you, you are a bastard.”

…………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………

What general title would you choose for the whole sequence ?

Argument between father and son / Prejudices / Billy’s ballet training

React to the sign :

MINERS  STRIKE  NOW

In my opinion …………………………………………………………………………………………………

Now write. (proposer plusieurs sujets d’essais)

Watch the movie. Concentrate on the pictures and on the intonations but don’t worry about the words.

A - Try to answer the following questions. Write complete sentences.

Who can you see ? …………………………………………………………….
Who is missing ?............................................................................
How do you know ?...........................................................................
Can you guess what happened ? (use probably) ……………………………………………….
Can you imagine Billy’s feelings ?  ( use must) ………………………………………………..
Where does the scene take place ? Country : ………………… City :………………………….
inside :…………………………………………………………………………………………
outside :………………………………………………………………………………………..
When does the action take place ? ………………………………………………………….
Billy’s actions. What can you see him doing? …………………………………………………………..
Can you guess Billy’s tastes ? .....................................................................
What does he look like ?.....................................................................

B - Circle the adjectives corresponding best to the people, the places, the atmosphere…
Billy : energetic - isolated - scared - lonely
Elder brother : violent - excited - in a hurry - pleased
Father : happy - worried - preoccupied - upset - nervous
Nan : absent-minded - surprised - glad
The house : poor - rich - small - dark -beautiful - messy
The police : friendly - threatening
The general atmosphere : tense - rough - nice - pleasant - violent
The environment : upper social-class - middle class - typical working-class

C- Isn’t there an element missing in this scene and present on the film poster ?

Which one ? ..............................................................................

D- Write a short text to sum up the first scene studied. (On another copy.)

En 1984, Billy, onze ans, vit dans le Nord-Est de l'Angleterre avec son père et son frère aîné, mineurs de leur état qui participent tous deux aux grèves et sa grand-mère. Il souffre de la mort récente de sa mère et son père l'oblige à pratiquer la boxe.

Un jour, voilà que le gymnase où il s'entraîne est partagé avec un cours de danse pour filles. Il observe la gestuelle des danseuses et s'intègre au goupe.

C'est un film poignant sur la découverte d'une vocation.

Dans ce film, un adolescent réussit, à force de ténacité, à vivre sa passion.