(They guess that the word “frottage”means a kind of yogurt.) Their relationship is shown in a fairly simple, sweetway, and we realize that, straight or gay, all teenage first romances have alot in common, including great wonder inspired by raging hormones andidealisms. Ste and Jamiefairly quickly discover how they feel about each other, and there is a touchingscene where they study a copy of Gay Times magazine, trying to figure out whatthey're supposed to know about homosexuality. Jamie becomes aware that he's drawn to Ste, but does nothing aboutit until one night when Ste is beaten (as usual) by his alcoholic father, andJamie's mother takes pity and allows Ste to sleep at their house. Theboys are Jamie ( Glenn Berry), an introverted, quiet type, and Ste ( Scott Neal),an athlete. The boys' lives containfew surprises (it is clear from the start what the one big surprise is going tobe), but from the other characters there is one astonishment after another. But a funny thing happens: the most interesting scenes involve thecharacters around them, who all but steal the movie. “Beautiful Thing” tells the story of two teenage boys, neighborsin a London high-rise housing project, who gradually become aware that they arehomosexual.
