Beautiful Thing
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Image:Btaus.jpg Beautiful Thing is a play written in 1993 by Jonathan Harvey. In 1996 there was a Channel Four production based on the play, with a screenplay revised by Harvey. Initially, it was only intended for television broadcast, but it was so well-received that it was later released theatrically. It is arguably the first film to show a realistic same-sex romance between two gay teens, and features many homosexual themes.
Plot
Set and filmed in Thamesmead, a working class area of London, Jamie (Glen Berry), a teen who is more than a little infatuated with his handsome classmate, Ste (Scott Neal), has to deal with his single mother Sandra (Linda Henry), who is totally occupied with her ambitious plans to open her own pub, and with her ever-changing lovers, the latest of whom is Tony (Ben Daniels), a neo-hippie. Sandra herself finds herself at odds with Leah (Tameka Empson), a sassy neighbor girl who has been expelled from school, does several drugs, and listens to her mother's Cass Elliot records. Jamie's homosexuality, while he tries to hide it somewhat, is reason enough for his classmates to bully him at every opportunity.
Ste (Scott Neal), who is living together with his drug-trafficking brother and his alcoholic father in the apartment next door, one night gets abused by his brother so badly that Sandra takes pity and lets him sleep over.
Lacking a third bed, Ste has to make do with sleeping top-to-toe with Jamie, who tries his best not to act too excited. However, after a memorable scene that demonstrates an imaginative use of peppermint foot lotion, the boys soon change sleeping arrangements to something more convenient.
The next morning, Ste panics because he had sex with Jamie and leaves before Jamie awakens, avoiding Jamie for days. Jamie works up the nerve to lift a gay magazine at a news shop. Jamie finally spots Ste at a nearby party and confronts him; they prepare to leave together. The party ends badly though, with Sandra taking vengeance on Leah for gossiping, who then spills the beans about Ste and Jamie. Ste reacts poorly, angrily rejecting Jamie and running away.
Image:Beautiful Thing (US Promo, 1996).jpg
Slowly Ste accepts Jamie's love. Ste and Jamie visit a gay pub together. Sandra discovers their secret, and the movie reaches its climax: a bad trip by Leah precipitates Sandra's breakup with Tony; the news of Sandra's new job comes out; and Sandra confronts Ste and Jamie. Sandra comes to accept her son's relationship.
The movie ends with the two slow dancing in the courtyard of their council flats to the tune of the Cass Elliot classic, Dream A Little Dream Of Me, while a guarding Sandra dances at their side with Leah.
Theatrical productions
The film is based on Jonathan Harvey's original play script.
- February 1998: The Australian premiere was directed by Michael Darragh and produced by Make Believe Productions in Sydney. A Sydney Gay and Lesbian Mardi Gras festival event, the critically-acclaimed independent production starred Fiona Harris, Simon Corfield, Andrew Wallace, Natalie Murray and Charles Kevin.