Beautiful Thing

Jamie and Ste, neighbors in some very dismal housing in England, are teenagers with issues: Jamie's mom is a chain smoking bartender with a bad temper albeit a real love for her son; while Ste's dad and brother pound on him and leave him in tears. There's also an irritating neighbor who plays Mama Cass at full volume and sticks her nose into others' business. Jamie and Ste are drawn to each other at first for comfort and then for more, though there is nothing graphic shown, and no exploitation.
It's a beautiful thing when they finally come out about it to everyone in public, supported by Jamie's mother and even the wacky neighbor, who dance with them in a show of support.

This 1996 entry from the ever-inventive Channel Four Films, puts most (if not all) gay coming-of-age movies to shame. This charmer is the story of Jamie (Glenn Berry) and Steve (Scott Neal), two teens who are not exactly friends; not exactly enemies. Their bond is more their proximity than anything else. That and the fact that they both are beginning to feel that there has to be more to life than the projects of South London. Jamie is the more studious, the more in touch with his emerging sexuality, the one tormented with taunts of "poof" and "queer". Steve, trapped in his flat with his physically abusive father and brother, is the more "straight" and dreams of sports infamy. The boys find themselves drawn together, dealing with the problems of their lives, and ultimately falling in love, falling in fear of love, and finally falling into a measure of comfortability with one another.

The eclectic cast of characters includes Jamie's barmaid mother Sandra (the brilliant Linda Henry), Sandra's oh-so-understanding boyfriend Tony, and teen neighbor Lia (Tameka Empson - a bravura performance in the "hag" role) who wants nothing more than to be Mama Cass. The result is a story not so much about two boys coming out, but about a whole community daring to come out of their respective closets and daring to dream. The film utilizes the music of Mama Cass and The Mamas and the Papas almost exclusively, resulting in a soundtrack that -- for a change -- actually serves the needs of the film. Though not the best made film from a technical standpoint, the characters are rich and believable, and if the last scene alone doesn't give you a lump in your throat, well...then you are jaded, aren't you.

Originally reviewed for Uniquely Pleasurable.

This did not get rave reviews on its original cinema release and while it did respectable business on the art house circuit never made a major commercial splash .Yet this warm ,tender and unassuming movie has lasted long in the popular affection .It is competently directed and has the strong cast and solid support actors that have always been a feature of UK cinema.Yet its popularity is not solely down to these factors but rather to its generosity of spirit.It is not profound.It is not sophisticated .It is the cinema as comfort food and its world is the world of everyday struggles and quiet triumphs over adversity.It affirms in a positive way gay white working class identity and uses humour to project its message ,rather than employing a furrowed brow and pounding the "message" over in broad strokes

It is set in and around a working class housing estate in London and centres around 2 teens-,Jamie (Glen Barry)and Ste (Scott Neal).It establishes in its opening scene,set on the school playing fields, the contrast between the boys.Jamie hates sports and tries to get out of games .He loves old movies (there is a shot of Lucille Ball on his bedside cabinet)and reads celebrity and gossip magazines.He is most assuredly not "one of the lads" and is bullied and labelled as gay.Ste however likes sports and is good at them -when first seen he wears an Arsenal soccer shirt.He fits in and the contrast between the two is reinforced later in a scene where Ste joins in an informal kickabout as Jamie sits disconsolately on the sidelines .Yet we are given non verbal clues that the two boys ,while not bosom pals in school ,get on OK .In both the above scenes Ste gives Jamie a look of sympathy ,a "sorry about these wankers" expression on his face.
For Ste ,home is the problem .He and Jamie are both living in single parent homes but they have wildly contrasting experiences of this .Ste is bullied by his alcoholic father and brutal elder brother ,while Jamie is loved firecely and loyally by his mother Sandra -the excellent Linda Henry.She and Jamie spar verbally but the love and support they give each other is real and unswerving and she is ambitious for a new and better life for them both and wants to run her own pub rather than stay a barmaid
What we get in the movie is a classic romantic narrative but one that just happens to involve two boys as they come to realise,not simply that they are gay ,but are drawn to each other.After one beating too many from his father Ste is taken in by Sandra and invited to "top and tail" with Jamie .The scene that follows is among the most tender and affecting in all cinema. I repeat-in all cinema ,not just gay cinema .The scene is not explicit but tender and loving ,fraught with fumbling and hesitancy (just like so many first encounters )and achingly moving.We then see the contrasting impact of the encounter on the two boys -Jamie growing in self confidence and Ste struggling to reconcile his sexuality with his status as "one of the lads" and frightened of his Dad and brother finding out .

The major motif of the movie is "coming out" and visually the movie is suprisingly subtle.Producer Tony Garnett was a major TV producer and there is a slighly TV feel to the visuals especially the shots of the bleak estate but then the scenes will be brightened up by a rainbow and the attempts by residents to brighten up the area with window baskets etc .This is never just a wallow in social realism and the sense of unreality is quite deliberate at times .
The leading actors are not hunks in the Hollywood sense .They are sweet - cute even- but quite ordinary kids in looks and aspirations ,which makes it an easy movie for gay teens to relate to .Note also the suggestions that Sandra has a gay side -her closest relationship is not with boyfriend Tony but her work partner Louise .She has the reputation as a sexual predator and comes across as quite butch and with a hint of sexual ambiguity.Her defiance of prejudice in the dance that features in the last scene is overt and more than simply a lioness defending her cubs from prejudice .Add a warm feisty performance from Tamara Empson a troubled teen Leah ,whose Mama Cass fixation is the excuse for some glorious soundtrack music.

This is a celebration of coming out .It is open hearted and charming .I have a deep affection for this movie for while not great cinema it is life and love affirming.And that counts for a whole lot in my book .

Seeek it out since it affirms two groups often derided in cinema -gays and blue collar whites .This is a pleasure

I'm one of those people who thinks most gay movies are silly and stupid. I'm pleasantly surprised when a film is funny and touching. It's hard to make a gay film without using stereotypes, and this film is just fun to watch and enjoy.

It will never die - this is one of the best "gay" movie ever made.

It is actually hard to say why this movie is better than others......... and I think it is probably because it is all there.... plus that magical touch to makes it incredible

This is my bad mood movie............. and it will make me happy again at the end.

If you are not getting this one - you are missing out on one of the best gay love story ever told.......... and it is a low budget movie !!!