A slice of British working-class life and the
story of two gay teenagers' sexual awakening,
"Beautiful Thing" has a definite agenda.
Although everyone else in the movie yells
obscenities at each other, the boy lovers
pursue the tenderest of relationships. This
makes for a nice coming-out picture for teens
confused about their sexual identities, but it
won't do for a much wider audience. The film
begins with London pub manager and single
mom Sandra (Linda Henry), who struggles to
support her teenage son Jamie (Glen Berry).
She doesn't know that Jamie is pining for his
male schoolmate and next-door neighbor Ste
(Scott Neal). After Ste's father beats him,
Sandra offers the unhappy lad sanctuary in
their flat. The two boys share a bed as Jamie
pursues Ste and Ste struggles against his
homosexuality.
The boys' relationship gradually becomes the beautiful thing the title promises. Although the audience is happy for them, one longs to see at least one other character presented compassionately. Sandra is a tough-as-nails, unfit mother, and her boyfriend, Tony (Ben Daniels), can only be described as bizarre. In one scene, he wears what looks like a woman's silk dressing-gown--yet no one comments on it. That couple and the other working-class characters spew four-letter words and insults, that being the only way they communicate. One neighbor in Sandra's apartment complex, a senseless young woman named Leah (Tameka Empson), is obsessed with the late singer Mama Cass of the '60s folk/rock group The Mamas and the Papas. That running joke seems included so that filmmakers can use (way too loudly) their music in the movie and pad the plot with some comic business. Tellingly, Leah becomes a sympathetic character only near the end, when she accepts Jamie and Ste's relationship and expresses a desire to become a lesbian herself.
Gay is great in these moviemakers' world view. Conservative folks might squirm at the scenes of the two boys kissing in a park, visiting a gay bar and rubbing lotion on each other. Audiences in between will just wish there were some other people in "Beautiful Thing" to like. Starring Linda Henry, Glen Berry and Scott Neal. Directed by Hettie Macdonald. Written by Jonathan Harvey. Produced by Tony Garnett and Bill Shapter. A Sony Classics release. Drama. Running time: 90 min.
The boys' relationship gradually becomes the beautiful thing the title promises. Although the audience is happy for them, one longs to see at least one other character presented compassionately. Sandra is a tough-as-nails, unfit mother, and her boyfriend, Tony (Ben Daniels), can only be described as bizarre. In one scene, he wears what looks like a woman's silk dressing-gown--yet no one comments on it. That couple and the other working-class characters spew four-letter words and insults, that being the only way they communicate. One neighbor in Sandra's apartment complex, a senseless young woman named Leah (Tameka Empson), is obsessed with the late singer Mama Cass of the '60s folk/rock group The Mamas and the Papas. That running joke seems included so that filmmakers can use (way too loudly) their music in the movie and pad the plot with some comic business. Tellingly, Leah becomes a sympathetic character only near the end, when she accepts Jamie and Ste's relationship and expresses a desire to become a lesbian herself.
Gay is great in these moviemakers' world view. Conservative folks might squirm at the scenes of the two boys kissing in a park, visiting a gay bar and rubbing lotion on each other. Audiences in between will just wish there were some other people in "Beautiful Thing" to like. Starring Linda Henry, Glen Berry and Scott Neal. Directed by Hettie Macdonald. Written by Jonathan Harvey. Produced by Tony Garnett and Bill Shapter. A Sony Classics release. Drama. Running time: 90 min.
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