There are many 'gay movies' with an air of tragedy around them and dramatic characters: couples break up, others fall into prostitution, others are sick with AIDS and, usually, there´s no happy ending. 'Beautiful Thing' does have a happy ending, that´s why it´s been so acclaimed by audiences.

"In 'Beautiful Thing' people find small things they can identify with, real things that exist in our ordinary lives." That´s how Scott Neal, the bleached blond above, explains this suburbian love story's overwhelming success in Great Britain and at the last San Sebastian Film Festival in which it was shown.

In this modest film, based upon a stageplay of the same title written by Jonathan Harvey, Neal plays Ste Pearce, a soccer fan and victim of his father and brother´s neverending beatings. Next door to him lives sensitive and reserved Jamie Gangel (Glen Berry) with his mother Sandra (played by the passionate Linda Henry). Only in this adjoining home will poor Ste feel loved, especially by the loving Jamie. Together, they silently undertake their 'love crusade,' knowing that the working class neighbourhood they live in won´t accept such a pure feeling between two boys.

But the people who really love them will proudly defend 'such a beautiful thing': Jamie´s understanding and fighting mum; Tony, her latest boyfriend, and the wonderfully unbalanced Leah, a black girl from the same block who´s crazy about the music and style of Mama Cass.