Beautiful Thing

A charming love story set over the course of a long, hot summer on a south London council estate, Beautiful Thing is Jonathon Harvey's feelgood play brought successfully to life for the big screen. It follows teenager Jamie experiencing his first flush of youthful love and coming to grips with his sexuality as he falls for the boy next door, Ste(ve). When the two are thrown together after Ste seeks refuge from his violent family, they embark on a difficult journey, stealing tentative glances and eventually kisses. When Jamie's mum follows them one evening to a gay pub and discovers his schoolbooks defiled with insults by classmates, Jamie is forced to open up to her. While the characters and sets retain an air of theatricality about them, the theme of gay love is so sensitively handled by first time director Hettie Macdonald, that the 'issues' melt into the background and Beautiful Thing becomes an exuberant affirmation of love and life. Sit back and enjoy.

Reviewed by Monika Maurer

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