Blue Jean movie storyline. 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 catalyzes a crisis that will challenge Jean to her core.
Blue Jean is a 2022 British drama film written and directed by Georgia Oakley, in her directorial debut. It stars Rosy McEwen, Kerrie Hayes, Lucy Halliday, Lydia Page, Stacy Abalogun, Amy Booth-Steele, Aoife Kennan, Scott Turnbull, Farrah Cave, Lainey Shaw, Izzy Neish and Becky Lindsay. The film premiered on September 3, 2022 at the 79th Venice Film Festival and was released in cinemas in the United Kingdom on 10 February 2023 by Altitude Films.
About the Story
In Newcastle in 1988, Jean is a PE teacher at a secondary school. On her way to work, she hears a news broadcast about the proposed Section 28 legislation, but switches it off. At school, she is reserved and closeted, and lies to her coworkers to avoid socialising with them after work. She regularly visits a gay bar with her friends and girlfriend Viv.
While Viv is at Jean’s flat, Jean tries to watch Blind Date, while Viv refuses, declaring it to be anti-gay propaganda. Jean’s sister arrives unannounced and asks her to look after her son, Sam. Jean hides Viv’s presence from her sister and downplays their relationship to Sam, which angers Viv.
A new student, Lois, arrives at school. Later, Jean and Lois recognise each other in the gay bar, but do not exchange words or acknowledge the meeting later. Lois gains a sudden interest in netball and joins Jean’s netball team, where she clashes with another student, Siobhan. Lois also spends more time at the bar, and befriends Jean’s friendship group.
Jean confronts her and tells her to stay away, warning her that she could lose her job at the school if she is outed. Viv sees Jean and Lois exiting the toilets, and leaves in anger, firstly believing that Jean is cheating on her. Jean confesses to Viv about how she knows Lois, and Viv responds by telling Jean that she is setting a poor example for her students.
Jean visits her sister for Sunday lunch, where she sees a photograph of her from her wedding day. She asks her sister to take the photograph down, and her sister reveals that she knows that Jean is a lesbian. Jean’s boss Paula finds a copy of a lesbian magazine on Jean’s desk, left there by somebody else, and Jean assumes that Lois is responsible.
Siobhan provokes Lois after a game of netball, and the two students fight. After Jean breaks the fight up, Siobhan kisses Lois in the shower, which Jean sees, but Siobhan claims that Lois assaulted her. Despite knowing this to be a lie, Jean goes along with it, and Lois is suspended.
Blue Jean (2023)
Directed by: Georgia Oakley
Starring: Rosy McEwen, Kerrie Hayes, Lucy Halliday, Lydia Page, Stacy Abalogun, Amy Booth-Steele, Aoife Kennan, Scott Turnbull, Farrah Cave, Lainey Shaw, Izzy Neish, Becky Lindsay
Screenplay by: Georgia Oakley
Production Design by: Soraya Gilanni Viljoen
Cinematography by: Victor Seguin
Film Editing by: Izabella Curry
Costume Design by: Kirsty Halliday
Set Decoration by: Eliora Darmon
Art Direction by: Rachel Billings
Music by: Stavros Papanikolaou, Chris Roe
MPAA Rating:
Distributed by: Magnolia Pictures (United States)
Release Date: September 3, 2022 (Venice), February 10, 2023
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