Written & Directed By: Georgia Oakley
Cinematography: Victor Seguin
Editor: Izabella Curry
Cast: Rosy McEwen, Kerrie Hayes, Lucy Halliday, Lydia Page, Amy Booth-Steel, Stacy Abalogun, Lainey Shaw, Farrah Cave
England, 1988 – Margaret Thatcher’s Conservative government is about to pass a law stigmatizing gays and lesbians, forcing Jean, a gym teacher, to live a double life. As pressure mounts from all sides, the arrival of a new girl at school catalyses a crisis that will challenge Jean to her core.
The film is about having to hide who you truly are, and the Lancia be forced to just to have peace in your life and peace of mind.
As the main character sees a student of hers as a kind of kindred spirit, or a younger version of herself only much braver and not caring so much about what others think. However, she also feels the need kind of warn her and protect her against the problems, which she might be opening herself up to.
So that teacher is suspected of a rumor to be gay. She goes immediately into defense mode. alienates everyone around her and suspects that her student might be the one who is causing all of this suspicion.
Even when she tries to act straight, it shows how bored she is and trapped, especially in a scene where she is stuck having a drink with coworkers, and there seems to be no escape yet when she’s out with her girlfriend or even her friends, we see how freeing and open they are.
The film is more about the teacher, but also the heart of the film is the student, just trying to live her life and seemingly being persecuted, especially by one girl at the school who kind of sets her up and definitely Hass to be one of the most villainous characters seen in a film in a while unexpectedly though, you also suspect that the villain might also actually be attracted herself to the other girl.
This is a film that is surprisingly affecting going in. You expect one thing, but by the end, you are just floored and are all excellent. The film is a tearjerker and kind of a heartbreaker but it’s also not an LGBTQ film that makes any character necessarily a martyr or makes the story come off more as traumatic than it needs to be.
There is tension throughout, and a lot of questioning of oneself morals and ethics in the people you surround yourself with add heart. It is also a film about embracing yourself, loving yourself, and truly letting others know your own definition, and not live up to theirs.
You must remember this film is based on recent political times not too long ago even though it works as a period piece there is still the history of prejudice and hatred that ran through countries’ governments and unfortunately people’s hearts and minds.
Grade: B
Cut To The Chase 