Review of Beautiful Thing (1996) by Stan B — 20 Jul 2012

What a great thing this movie is. A gay romance that doesn't end in tragedy, doesn't feature AIDS or people prancing around like the ridiculous poofs the straight world frequently paints us as. But not only is it that, it's also a time-capsule of working class life in Britain in the mid-90s. And considering it was only 16 years ago, it's another world. That was the thing that was the most interesting thing for me about the film. Unintentionally they have made a film that captures a sort of pre-chav spirit that is now dead and gone in a world of workfare and Orwellian misery. But back to the film- it really is a wonderful feel-good piece which delivers a slice of realism with a romantic twist. The sort of film that makes you glad to be gay. The ending is a little unrealistic, but then that is kind of the point.

Linda Henry's is the surprising, given her current Eastenders career stand-out performance here, closely followed by Glen Berry and then Scott Neal.

And all set to the music of Mama Cass. I think I may have to purchase some of that now :).