Two of Us (1987 film)

Two of Us is a 1987 gay-themed BBC television film written by Leslie Stewart and directed by Roger Tonge. Produced as part of the BBC Schools SCENE series and intended for young adults. Although it might be considered quite tame today, at the time it confronted the then Thatcherite government's attempt to ban gay sex education in schools via the controversial (and since repealed) section 28 legislation.[1]. Given this backdrop, the BBC was eventually not brave enough to show it during the day and it was screened at night, even though originally created for a school audience. It is perhaps remarkable that the film was even made at all.

The film has similarities with Beautiful Thing, filmed less than a decade later. In particular, the attitudes portrayed in the Two of Us (homophobia and gay-bashing) were already changing to a wider acceptance in Beautiful Thing, despite the environment that Section 28 engendered.

Plot

The film centres on the life of Phil - a fun loving student in his final year at British secondary school and currently going steady with girlfriend Sharon, whose best friend Vera (an early role for Kathy Burke) just happens to have the hots for his best mate Matthew. But all is not as it seems. Matthew is gay, having dropped out of education the previous year as a means of escaping the homophobic abuse of the classroom, only for the discovery of his collection of soft-core gay porn to cause him problems at home as well - see clip [2]. For good measure, Matthew is an ardent swimmer - an opportunity for the film to immediately use and confront an obvious stereotype. The inevitable shower scene is here. The film contains no nudity whatsoever.

Meanwhile Phil is torn between the realisation that whilst he loves Sharon, he equally has feelings for Matthew. He tries to have it both ways, introducing the one to the other - prompting Vera to describe him as a "little worm" when Sharon runs off in distress. Tired of the complications of life at home, the two decide to elope to the coastal resort of Seaford on the Sussex coast. But when Sharon follows him, determined to regain her "fella", the question is not so much whether they can leave their troubles behind, but whether Phil's bisexual nature is destined to make their "honeymoon", a short-lived one.

The film has two endings. Originally gay love triumphs, Phil returns to Matthew at the beach, and they run together into the ocean. However this was considered too controversial and the film was withdrawn. It was re-released in 1988 with a more acceptable ending where Phil appears to leave with Sharon, but Matthew decides that life must go on and that he is his own person. This ending is still sufficiently ambiguous to allow the viewer to identify with either male character.

Commissioned in 1986 for transmission in February 1987 as part of the BBC Schools SCENE series, this drama dared to portray two teenage boys who come to realise that their friendship for each other, has developed into something far more substantial. It is sincere. It is touching. It also flew in the face of contemporary politics. For the real story here is not about Phil and Matthew, but that of what became of this tender portrayal of adolescent gay love.

Cast

References

• Two of Us at the Internet Movie Database

External links

• Two of Us at AllRovi
• Roger Tonge at the Internet Movie Database