Amazon.com essential video: This absolute winner, based on a stage play by Jonathan Harvey and adapted by him, is a kind of enchanted, urban slice-of-life tale about a gay teen, Jamie (Glen Berry), who is in love with the boy next door, Ste (Scott Neal). Hampering Jamie's progress on the romantic front is his fear that his mother (Linda Henry) will find out, as well as concern over complicating Ste's existing problems. Beautiful Thing is a relationship movie, to be sure, but that description doesn't really describe the buoyant tone of this British television production. Democratic in its inclusive regard for each character (whether camera-pretty or not), the film--well-directed by Hettie Macdonald--is full of surprises. Chief among them is the terrific personality of Jamie's mum, a strong and independent woman who truly worries over and adores her son. But this is a movie involved in a kind of happy dialogue with itself: the tunes of Mama Cass, for instance, play a part in both the story and overall ambience, while a strategic placement of the Rodgers and Hammerstein chestnut "Sixteen Going on Seventeen" during an act of love is fun and exciting. --Tom Keogh
Customer Reviews
Average Rating:
Rating: - A Beautiful Movie
I ordered this by accident, thinking it was "A Beautiful Life." I liked this movie very much. I am not gay but am sympathetic. I think the movie captures an awakening love that neither character was ... Read More
Rating: - Quirky characters in dismal housing find love at last
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 ... Read More
Rating: - Charming Coming of Age Story
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 ... Read More
Rating: - Open hearted and tender coming out movie
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 ... Read More
Rating: - Very cute and touching
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 ... Read More
- A Beautiful Movie
- Open hearted and tender coming out movie