Georgia Oakley crafts a decent debut feature that captures the challenges of being a lesbian in Thatcher’s Britain.

The eponymous Jean (Rosy McEwen) – who does seem pretty down in the mouth for most of the film – floats through her job as a PE teacher at a northern public school. Her guard is always up as her world, and particularly her work, is a homophobic one – we hear on the news the passing of Section 28 legislation that prohibis the positive betrayal of homosexuality in schools. Even her sister would prefer she hide her girlfriend Viv (Kerrie Hayes) from Jean’s young nephew – think of the children!

It’s not all gloom though. Oakley shows the Tyneside working class gay community as one of strength, inclusion, and acceptance. The catalyst for change for Jean is the arrival of a seemingly lesbian student at her school. Lois (Lucy Halliday) is mouthy and unashamed. What sort of role model might Jean be? Spoilers: not a great one.

Ultimately Jean’s maudlin angst grates, and although McEwen does a good job, it was hard to find much depth in Oakley‘s prolonged gaze. Add to that an intrusive soundtrack to signal drama and emotion and it begins to feel like less than the sum of its parts.

It’s a worthy subject, though. I couldn’t help thinking that the story would’ve been much better told, more uplifting and more topical, if it had been through Viv’s eyes. As the graffiti said, “Resist the shame regime!”

Director: Georgia Oakley
Origin: UK (2022)
Language: English
Genre: Drama

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