BLUE JEAN

England, 1988: PE teacher Jean is forced to lead a double life: Margaret Thatcher and her Conservative parliamentary majority have just passed Section 28 - a homophobic law that bans "the promotion of homosexuality". As a result, no one at school is allowed to know that Jean is a lesbian, otherwise she could lose her job. Her combative partner Vic supports her, but would like Jean to be a little more courageous. At the weekends, they immerse themselves in Newcastle's queer nightlife together. When Jean meets one of her students in a lesbian bar, she has to make a difficult decision...

In her debut film, director Georgia Oakley tells a gripping and multi-layered story of a deeply repressive time in which the lives of countless lesbians and gays were significantly restricted or even destroyed by political decisions. At the same time, however, her film also bears witness to the resistant power of a queer community that was just beginning to form in opposition to the "Iron Lady" and her conservative government.

Teacher Jean is forced to lead a double life in 1988's England. Margaret Thatcher and her conservative parliamentary majority have just passed Section 28 - a homophobic law that prohibits "the promotion of homosexuality". That's why no one at school is allowed to know that Jean is a lesbian, otherwise she could lose her job.
A beautifully shot yet gripping and complex story about a deeply repressive time, in which the lives of countless lesbians and gay men were significantly restricted or even destroyed by political decisions. At the same time, her film also bears witness to the resilient power of a queer community that only really formed in opposition to conservative government.(English with German subtitles)