Beautiful Thing
Columbia/Tri-Star (1996)
Comedy, Drama, Queer Themes/Interest, Romance
In Collection
#383
7*
Seen ItYes
(8/1/2016 Home)
0
IMDB   7.5
90 mins UK / English
DVD 
Linda Henry Sandra Gangel
Glen Berry Jamie Gangel
Steven M. Martin Ryan McBride
Scott Neal Ste Pearce
Meera Syal Miss Chauhan
Martin Walsh Mr. Bennett
Ben Daniels Tony
Marlene Sidaway Betty
John Benfield Rodney Barr
Beth Goddard Brewery Official
Terry Duggan Kevin
Tameka Empson Leah Russell
Andrew Fraser Jayson
Daniel Bowers Trevor Pearce
Sophie Stanton Louise
Director
Hettie MacDonald
Producer Tony Garnett
Bill Shapter
Writer/Composer Jonathan Harvey
Cinematography Chris Seager
Music John Altman


A tender love story set during a hot summer on a South-East London housing estate. Jamie, a relatively unpopular lad who bunks off school to avoid football, lives next door to Ste, a more popular athletic lad but who is frequently beaten up by his father and older brother. Such an episode of violence brings Jamie and Ste together: Sandra (Jamie's mum) offers refugee to Ste, who has to 'top-and-tail' with Jamie. Hence, the story tells of their growing attraction for one another, from initial lingering glances to their irrefutable love, which so magnificently illustrated at the end of the film. In deals with the tribulations of coming to terms with their sexuality and of others finding out, in light of Sandra's unwavering loyalty and defence of Jamie and the fear of repercussion should Ste's family find out. The plot is set against sub-texts of Sandra's desire to manage her own pub, and thus escape the estate, and of her new relationship with her hippy boyfriend Tony; and of Leah, the brassy girl next door who has been expelled from school and spends her time listening to Mama Cass records and tripping on a variety of drugs.
- Written by Mark Edwards
Edition Details
No. of Discs/Tapes 1
Personal Details
Purchase Date 7/28/2016
Location Personal Library
Owner Deitz
Store Amazon
Condition New
Tags coming of age
Links + Review: Time Out, London
Beautiful Thing at Core for Movies
IMDB
TheMovieDb.org
Rotten Tomatoes

Notes
While this made for television film is another coming of age story of two middle-teens (Jamie & Ste) discovering their sexuality, it is a cut above the usual fare for this genre -- There are some who complain that Jamie & Ste's coming out story is not realistic, however, I've know many stories, and Jamie & Ste's story seems real even though it is not mine -- I was puzzled by Sandra's (Jamie's mother) relationship with her boyfriend (in my mind one of the stronger adult characters in the movie that could have been more fully developed) -- A British reviewer (see Rick at IMDb) nicely explained it for the benefit of us non British viewers -- Another complaint: the working class London accents were often difficult for this American to understand; I usually solve this problem by turning on captions, but there appear to be no captions for this dvd, which also limits its viewing by the deaf -- TimeOut magazine The best LGBT movies: #9.