BEAUTIFUL THING (1996) dir. Hettie Macdonald Set during a long, hot summer on the Thamesmead Estate in Southeast London, three teenagers edge towards adulthood. Jamie is in love with his classmate, and while his homosexuality remains concealed, his introverted nature and dislike of football are reason enough for his classmates to bully him. Ste is the aforementioned classmate, who lives with his abusive brother and stepfather nextdoor to Jamie. Leah is also a neighbour; expelled from school, she takes a variety of drugs, constantly listens and sings along to her mother's records, and finds herself at odds with Sandra, Jamie's mother. (link in title)















