October Sky: Film Analysis

“Sometimes you really can’t listen to what anybody else says. You just gotta listen inside” and what’s inside are the shared themes of the pursuit of dreams, the struggle with adversity and a search for identity that are present in both Billy Elliot directed by Steven Daldry and October Sky directed by Joe Johnston. Because of this, both make an exceptional addition to the English course common module, Texts and Human Experiences.

Texts and Human experiences deepen the understanding of how texts represent individual and collective human experiences. They show how texts represent emotions and human qualities that society can relate too. This is also displayed through the inconsistencies of the main characters, which allows the audience to see a different side in human behaviour and reflect on their experiences. Reflecting on their experiences allows us to see the view from the character itself, as if we were in the movie. The role of story telling allows society to reflect on the analysis of the stories and the human experiences that lie within the text. A comparison of October Sky and Billy Elliot is shown in this video with this in mind.

Billy Elliot is a heart-warming story about a 11-year-old boy living in Northern England. His life changed when he discovered a ballet dancing class during a boxing lesson. He was a coal miner’s son and the expectations from his father to be a boxer or wrestler caused grief in their relationship. He had a natural talent which his dancing instructor rarely saw and her passion for teaching was reawakened when she saw his ability. Billy becoming a ballet dancer brought emotion to both his father and his teacher, but in reversed ways. Billy’s father believed that ballet dancing was for girls and didn’t want this to affect the view of his family in his hometown. This later changed when Billy’s Father started to realise his love for ballet dancing and brought the whole town together to raise funds for his new life at a ballet school. Text and Human experiences are revealed throughout Billy Elliot.

October Sky is an engaging story about a coal miners’ son from West Virginia. Homer discovers the first artificial satellite that goes into orbit in a worldwide event. His world is changed after the event when he grows an inspiration in building rockets. Homer grew up with expectations from his father John to become coal miner just like himself, but John soon realises his son has eyes on a different future. John disapproves of his sons’ interest in rockets but that doesn’t stop Homer from building and designing new rockets with his friends and his teacher. Homer’s mind is set on Rocketry which he hopes leads him and his family to a better life. Homer’s interest in rockets challenged the families view of their future of becoming a coal miner but instead loving rocketry. His teacher and his friends change Homer’s fathers view on his compassion of rocketry and supports him to discover a better life for his family and friends. Text and Human experiences are revealed throughout October Sky.

Inconsistencies of the main characters of both October Boys and Billy Elliot is displayed throughout the stories. The stories both display the impact of there fathers on there futures and what they want to achieve in their lives. Billy’s father doesn’t believe his passion and love for ballet dancing but later supports him throughout his journey, during this he conveys emotions to the audience about Billy’s dream and wants him to achieve greatness within the world of ballet dancing. Homer’s interest in rocketry is denied by his father throughout the movie, but Homer doesn’t give up on his dreams and continues to create rockets with his friends and his teacher. Teachers and Fathers have huge impacts in both stories of both the main characters and how the characters go against the standard to achieve success. Texts and Human experiences deepen the understanding of how texts represent individual and collective human experiences.