On a council-flat estate in the London suburbs two teenage boys are falling in love with each other. One is awkward and picked on at school while the other is popular but regularly beaten by his father and older brother. Together the boys explore their emerging sexuality and feelings for each other in an environment that at first glance may not exactly seem very supportive.
On the surface Beautiful Thing pretty much sounds like an English kitchen-sink drama combined with gay coming-out plot – and it is both these things – but it is also a very funny, sweet and tender love story. Far from being an English Miserablist film in the style of so many Ken Loach and Mike Leigh films, Beautiful Thing contains a lot of warmth and happiness.
Based on the play of the same name Beautiful Thing was originally made for English television in 1996, it secured a cinema release in Australia in 1998 and has only now arrived on DVD in this country. Filled with music by Cass Elliot and The Mamas & the Papas, Beautiful Thing is a truly joyous Queer Cinema film with universal appeal.
Originally appeared in The Big Issue, No. 340, 2009
© Thomas Caldwell, 2009
CINEMA AUTOPSY 
I´m in love with Glen Berry (Jamie Gangel) since the day that i watched that movie.
It´s such romantic and beautiful story.
And it really desearves the name “Beautiful Thing“.
Hi Ricardo
Yes, it is a beautiful thing of a film and I am so glad that it has finally been released on DVD in Australia. I remember first seeing it on VHS 10 years ago and being incredibly impressed with it then.
Cheers
Thomas
Unfortunately it’s not on dvd in Brazil, but i have the movie on dvd (but it’s not original, of course).
Hi Ricardo – you could trying buying a copy of the Australian DVD online. You shouldn’t have any problem playing Australian DVDs in Brazil as both countries use regional code 4 DVDs.