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Beautiful Thing

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Beautiful Thing - 1996 | 90mins | Drama, Romance | Colour

The Production Team

Director: Hettie MacDonald.
Producer: Tony Garnett and Bill Shapter.
Script: Jonathan Harvey. (also play)
Cinematography: Chris Seager.
Editing: Don Fairservice.
Production Design: Mark Stevenson.
Art Direction: Chrysoula Sofitsi.
Costume Design: Pam Tait.
Makeup Department: Elisa Johnson.
Original Music: John Altman.

The Cast

Linda Henry - Sandra Gangel
Meera Syal - Miss Chauhan
Glen Berry - Jamie Gangel
Martin Walsh - Mr. Bennett
Steven M. Martin - Ryan McBride
Scott Neal - Ste Pearce
Ben Daniels - Tony
Tameka Empson - Leah

Plot Synopsis

Tenderhearted coming-of-age drama adapted from the West End play by Jonathan Harvey. It's a long hot summer on the Thamesmead council estate in Southeast London, and the temperature is rising as three three teenagers edge towards adulthood. Introspective Jamie (Glen Berry) is bunking off school, while his barmaid mother, Sandra (Linda Henry), juggles job promotion and a relationship with her hippy-dippy painter boyfriend Tony (Ben Daniels). Next door lives the sassy Leah (Tameka Empson), who has been kicked out of school and now spends her days listening to Mama Cass records. Meanwhile Jamie's classmate Ste (Scott Neal), although sporty and popular at school, is being bullied at home by his hard-drinking father and sadistic brother. One night Ste seeks refuge with Jamie and his mother and ends up sleeping head to toe with Jamie. What develops is a delightful and touching romance between the two boys; from the first nervous glances to the ingenious use of Peppermint Foot Lotion.