Blue Jean is set in Newcastle in 1988. Jean (Rosy McEwen) is a PE teacher at a secondary school who is hiding that she is gay. A new 15 year old pupil, Lois (Lucy Halliday) starts at the school and joins Jean’s netball team. One evening, Jean and Lois spot each other a gay bar, but neither acknowledges the other’s presence. As Lois struggles to fit in at school, Jean finds her life becoming more difficult.
People these days eulogise about how great the 80’s were. Whilst there was some great music, I remember it more for the hateful political climate and the appalling Clause 28, that would prevent councils and schools portraying homosexuality in a positive manner, that was about to be made law, hangs-heavy over this film. Jean claims at one point to her girlfriend, Viv (Kerrie Hayes), that not everything is political but as she becomes culpable in the unjust suspension from school of Lois, she realises it is.
This is powerful stuff, especially for anyone who lived through the period, with Georgia Oakley’s script making pertinent points without being preachy and delivering a compelling story. Oakley also directs a feature length film for the first time and is definitely a talent to watch. McEwan is brilliant as the compromised teacher and Halliday very natural in what is her screen debut.
Rating: 8.5 out of 10