Beautiful Thing

English working-class family fireworks for those who find Ken Loach and Mike Leigh a bit heavy-going. Cheerful, resilient barmaid Sandra (Linda Henry) is self-appointed watchdog of her housing project, the sort of neighbor who's into everyone's business with the brightest of smiles and the best of intentions. Her teenage son Jamie (Glen Berry) is coming to terms with the fact that he's gay and begins an affair with neighbor Ste (Scott Neal), whom Linda has invited to stay with them because he's being battered by his alcoholic father and sadistic brother. It all sounds horribly grim and depressing, but director Hettie Macdonald manages to put a cheery spin on everyt...