Review of Beautiful Thing (1996) by Ara B — 25 Nov 2011

"I wish I was the one that was going away. Nothing ever happens around here. I gets up in the morning, bake my face in half a ton of slap, tong my hair with yesterday's lacquer, that's it. It's the same every bleeding day. There's fuck-all to look forward to.".

Jamie (Glen Berry) lives with his mother Sandra (Linda Henry) in a huge appartement building in South London. He is a loner, hates school and he has no interest in hanging out with the other boys. Sandra is pretty worried about that. She is tough and outgoing, and she even tries to make her young boyfriend Tony (Ben Daniels) to spend some time with Jamie, to make him play some soccer.

Ste (Scott Neal) lives in the neighbouring flat. He has many mates, belongs to the cool kids, but he suffers from his brutal father and his drug-dealing brother.

One night Sandra finds Ste, sitting by the river. He refuses to go back to his family. Sandra knows what is wrong with him. Thin walls. So she takes him home with her. To sleep top to toe with Jamie. Top to toe...they end up making out.

Jamie seems to be shy and weak, but he is able to be much stronger and much more open, than Ste could ever be. He has nothing to lose. No friends, no respect or reputation. He wants to be with Ste and he wants the world to know about how happy he is with him. Ste has everything to lose. His mates, his status in his subculture and also his health. On the other hand, Jamie is the only person he loves and who loves him back...

Everyone and everything seems to be against the blooming love between those two boys...everyone but Leah (Tameka Empson). Another neighbour, who is keen on boys, drugs and Mama Cass.

Every single song in this movie, is sung by Mama Cass, and they couldn't have made a better choice! Her songs run like a golden thread through the story. They pick up every mood and they get stuck in your head.

Yes, this movie is cute and touching. But not corny. Maybe a bit. But I don't care, I love it anyway.

"Ste: Do you think I'm queer?

Jamie: It don't matter what I think.".

"Ste: [reading magazine] You cannot transmit the HIV virus by frottage.

Ste: What's frottage?

Jamie: It's yogurt. It's French.".