BLUE JEAN
UK, 2022, 97 minutes, Colour.
Rosy McEwen, Kerry Hayes, Lucy Halliday, Lydia Page.
Directed by George Oakley.
Blue Jean received very strong favourable reviews from the critics as well as the popular award at the Venice film Festival, 2022.
The setting is 1988 at the issues are still significant in the 21st-century. There have been a lot of films about homosexuality, life and difficulties in England, legislation change. Not so many films focusing on lesbians.
The central character here, Jean, is a lesbian, teacher at school, keeping her orientation quiet, but going with her partner to gain clubs. The film recreates the atmosphere of 1988, the move towards coming out, uncertainties, public opinion…
The film also focuses on Lois, a schoolgirl, finding difficulty at school, criticised by fellow students, but going to the nightclub. This has repercussions for the principal of the school, for Jean as well as for Lois, highlighting the social issues connected with lesbian orientation at the time as well as now.
The next film by writer-director, George Oakley, is a version of Jane Austen’s Sense and Sensibility.
- The focus on Jean, the pervasive blue throughout the film, décor, clothes…? And the blues for Jean?
- 1988, British society, in the North, Tyneside, families, school, clubs? And the issue of the legislation concerning homosexuality and children?
- Jean’s story, seeing her at home, alone, dyeing her hair, watching the television, getting dressed, going to school, her position at school, work with children, the sports, with the other members of the staff, the common room, working with the children, the changing room and showers, the principal? The contrast with her going to the club, the lesbian club, the atmosphere, the members, playing pool, friendship, drinking?
- Her relationship with Vivian, Vivian and her personality, out and proud, at the club, with Jean? The presence of Lois at the club, even trying to ignore her, later wanting her to leave the club, Vivian and her suspicions, walking off, Vivian and her emotions, phone calls, the clash, the explanations, the reconciliation?
- Jean, the proposed legislation, her keeping her identity quiet, the pressure and the effect? At school? The other teachers and their comments, especially her continued and nervous smoking? the information about the proposed legislation and their responses?
- Lois, her age, coming to school, awkward, interactions with Jean, joining the team, her play, sitting on the bench, the other girls and their response, Siobhan and her taunting Lois, the other girls laughing, in the shower block, Siobhan and her kissing Lois, orientation or wanting to provoke? Jean observing the situation, her interpretation? The fight between the girls, the injuries, jean tending Lois’s injuries?
- Lois going to the lesbian club, her age, behaviour, interactions? Jean urging her to leave?
- The meeting with the principal, the discussions, Jean giving her witness? Lois being suspended?
- The effect on Lois and her attitude, in the workplace, some reconciliation? visiting Lois, the discussions,
- Jean, her sister, minding her nephew, his seeing Vivian, telling his mother, Jean and the visits, her alienation from her mother, her brother-in-law and his reaction to the boy dropping the plate, the later playing together? Jean’s later visit, the party, the guest and his interrogation, her being provoked, her forthright declaration that she was a lesbian?
- Going outside, laughing, crying, coming to terms with herself, her work, her identity, the future?
