The Film Experience

In preparation for the next Smackdown Team Experience is traveling back to 2000.

The face of coming out to your crush, who's also a male ballet dancer.By: Christopher James

What do our interests say about our sexuality? From sports to dancing, so many hobbies carry with them gendered expectations. Set in 1984 rural England amidst the coal miner strike, Billy Elliot follows one boy as he defies his family’s expectations of him and pursues dancing instead of boxing. Claudio recently gave us a beautiful write-up on Jamie Bell’s performance as the title character as part of his Almost There column. Needless to say, I second all the points he made in his article.

For the purposes of this column, we want to look specifically at what the film has to say about sexuality, specifically as it relates to Billy’s best friend, Michael Caffrey (Stuart Wells)...

Turning looks, stunting pretty, she's THAT bitch from a small coal mining town in Northern England.

Michael: So you're going to ballet every week?

Billy: Aye, but don't say owt.

Michael: Do you get to wear a tutu?

Billy: Fuck off, they're only for lasses. I wear me shorts.

Michael: You ought to ask for a tutu?

Billy: I'd look a right dickhead.

Michael: I think you'd look wicked.

Young Billy doesn’t have the talent for boxing, but always finds his eyes darting over to the ballet lessons going on in the same gym. One day he follows his heart and takes ballet lessons, which angers his Dad (Gary Lewis), who is also struggling with the miner’s strike alongside his other son, Tony (Jamie Draven). However, Billy finds a supporter in dance teacher Mrs. Wilkinson (Julie Walters - part of the Supporting Actress Smackdown). Still, the one person who has always had Billy’s back is Michael.

Michael always displayed idiosyncrasies that made him an outsider. Yet, loyalty was the cornerstone of his friendship with Billy. While everyone else, both male and female, wanted to mock Billy for starting ballet, Michael was the only one who was genuinely inquisitive.

One day, Billy goes over to visit Michael at home. When Michael opens the door, Billy is stunned to see Michael in a dress and lipstick. Rather than mock him, Billy accepts it and hangs out with Michael. Michael tries to get Billy into a dress as well, but Billy lightly turns down the offer. He does let Michael put lipstick on him though. When Billy asks if they will get in trouble, Michael reveals that his Dad would dress him up as a girl when no one is around. Billy asks no follow up questions, and neither does the movie. It’s an odd thread to acknowledge and never return to. Is Michael getting abused by his Father? It’s nice to see Billy be accepting and not judgmental of Michael’s experimentation with gender expression. But red flags are all around. Something is going on at Michael’s home. Who is looking out for him?

Once again, The Film Experience sings the praises of Jamie Bell's performance in Billy Elliot. He's such a charmer as he teaches his gay best friend, Michael, to dance after he comes out to him.

Billy: My hands are freezing.

Michael: 'Gizzem here.

Billy: [Michael takes his hands and puts them in his jacket] What are you doing?

Michael: Nothin'. Just warmin' your hands up.

Billy: [pause] You're not a poof or owt?

Michael: [deadpan] What gave you that impression?

Billy: Aren't me hands cold?

Michael: I quite like it.

[kisses Billy on the cheek; they stare at each other]

Billy: Just because I like ballet, doesn't mean I'm a poof, you know.

Michael: You won't tell anyone, will you?

Billy: [pauses, then grins] Come on.

Michael: [stares after him longingly]

Just as he didn’t judge Michael’s crossdressing, Billy also doesn’t shame Michael when he kisses him late one night. It’s clear that Michael’s devotion to Billy isn’t just for friendship, he’s harboring a crush on Billy. Watching the scene, the fear in Michael’s eyes as he decides whether or not to make a move is palpable. It’s possible that Billy could return his feelings, which would be what he wants. However, that could possibly lead to them getting caught and harassed. If Billy doesn’t return the kiss, he may no longer want to be friends with Michael, destroying his only connection. Coming out is very scary and the fear in Michael’s eyes is recognizable.

Following this interaction, Billy goes the extra mile to show that he accepts Michael. He takes Michael to the rec center to let him try on a tutu and dance with him. He gives him a ballet lesson, letting Michael in on this new world that has captivated Billy. Not only did Michael not distance himself from Michael, but he brought him further into his world. All this time, Billy had been struggling with people’s perceptions of him for pursuing ballet. While others questioned his sexuality, Billy never really did (he had eyes for Debbie). However, in seeing Michael’s vulnerability in coming out, Billy realized he had to be empathetic.

Who else was sobbing by this point in the movie?

Tony: What the bloody hell are you doing here?

Michael (Aged 25): I wouldn't have missed it for the world.

The final act of Billy Elliot may feel a little rushed, but it certainly delivers an emotional payoff. After finally seeing Billy dance, his Dad finally decides to support him and they make their way to the Royal Ballet Academy audition. After an emotional speedbump, Billy finds out that he was accepted to the school and must move to London. His raw talent has paid off and he has earned the support of his fractured family. It’s hard not to be moved.

There’s one person who isn’t as happy about Billy’s move: Michael. As he had stated earlier when he was trying on his sister’s dress, Michael didn’t want Billy to move because he would miss him too much. As Billy takes a last look at his house, he hears Michael call out for him from far away. Billy’s family tries to get him to hurry up, but Billy bounds back to say goodbye to Michael. When he reaches Michael, Billy finally returns the kiss on the cheek that Michael gave him when he came out. Bell’s smile is so cute and pure. The kiss wasn’t sexual, but was a gesture of friendship to show Michael how much he meant to Billy. Unfortunately, Michael isn’t smiling as Billy runs back to go to London. The camera leans on his face, crestfallen and crushed. Who will he have now that Billy is leaving him?

That can’t be the last we see of Michael - that would be too sad. The film jumps forward fourteen years to a 25-year-old Billy’s performance of Swan Lake in London. Dad and Tony both make it to the performance and sit next to Michael, who had clearly gotten there very early. After all these years, Michael and Billy have kept in contact and Michael is there to support Billy. Their goodbye was not a goodbye forever, and their friendship endured. The way Michael looks at Billy with admiration and pride as he leaps onto the stage is priceless. It’s hard not to burst with joy when you watch your friend realize his dreams. We don’t know what Michael’s dreams are or what his future holds. Hopefully he found a way to live an out and open life. Yet, the script does give him an inner life that exists independently of Billy, even though Michael makes it very clear that Billy is a large part of his life.

Previously in Gay Best Friend

pre stonewall

post stonewall

1990s and the 2000s

the now