Different for Girls (1996)

User Rating:

6.9/10   

Director:

Richard Spence

Writer:

Tony Marchant (writer)

Release Date:

12 September 1997 (USA)

Genre:

Comedy

Plot:

Karl Foyle (Steven Mackintosh) and Paul Prentice (Ropert Graves) were best mates at school in the Seventies...

Plot Keywords:

Male Nudity | Sex Change | Coming Out | Gay Interest | Homosexual Teenager

Awards:

3 wins & 2 nominations

Cast

Steven Mackintosh	...	Karl / Kim Foyle
Rupert Graves	...	Paul Prentice
Miriam Margolyes	...	Pamela
Saskia Reeves	...	Jean
Charlotte Coleman	...	Alison
Neil Dudgeon	...	Neil Payne
Nisha Nayar	...	Angela (as Nisha K. Nayar)
Lia Williams	...	Defence Solicitor
Ian Dury	...	Recovery Agent
Robert Pugh	...	DS Cole
Philip Davis	...	Taxi Driver
Rick Warden	...	PC Ken
Kevin Allen	...	PC Alan
Gerard Horan	...	Sergeant Harry
Edward Tudor-Pole	...	Prosecuting Solicitor

Also Known As:

Crossing the Border

MPAA:

Rated R for nudity, brief graphic sexuality and strong language.

Runtime:

97 min | USA:92 min

Country:

UK | France

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.75 : 1

Sound Mix:

Dolby Digital

Certification:

Iceland:12 | Australia:MA | Portugal:M/12 | Spain:13 | UK:15 | USA:R

Filming Locations:

Lloyd's Building, Lime Street, Broadgate, London, England, UK

Company:

British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC)

Quotes:

Paul Prentice: [while making love to "Kim"] It fits! It bloody fits!

It fits! It bloody fits!

Love, in Different for Girls, broke all boundaries. It went past the idea of straight or gay and went directly into the idea that two people can fall in love no matter what consequences or hurdles life may have awaiting for them. It went beyond the sexual parameters set forth in most films and instead lied them out on the table for the world to see. The was a very real love story. In fact, I would say it was one of the more true stories that I have seen on the screen for a very long time. You could see the chemistry, you could see the insecurity, you could see the beginnings of a beautiful relationship and it was perfect. You know the unsure feelings that you have when you first begin a relationship, the hesitancy, the butterflies, the stepping stones . well, they were all demonstrated in this film. I cannot speak enough of how real and true this film was. It confirmed my belief that you do not need to have the clichéd, pronounced roles of male and female to have a beautiful love story, all you need are two people and a heart that needs to be found.

The acting was decent. There could have been a bit more passion between the two, but I am not complaining. I completely understood what they wanted, where they wanted to go, and what they needed to do to achieve it. One of the most powerful scenes of this film was when Kim undresses and they make love. For the first time in cinema history, it was love and not sex. They did it to better their relationship, to say to each other that they were comfortable with their decisions. They wanted to say "I love you" in the best way possible. While no words were spoken, you were able to glance into their minds and hearts, and it takes very good acting to allow this to happen. They even demonstrate this even further when Prentice lays for a while after talking about what just happened and he ponders over what to do now he had no job or money and nowhere to live. Together they work on a solution. There is no "me" in this relationship. This is when Prentice decides to finally make his true feelings known in a very bold, yet beautiful fashion. You will have to see the film to experience the true emotion.

Overall, I was very impressed with this film. I loved the boundaries that it broke, again .. the truth that it spoke, and the realistic story that it presented. For those that will look at this review and get quinsy in their stomachs, I ask you think . what is so different between this story and most of the recycled Hollywood garbage that we watch on a weekly basis? My answer is nothing. If I have to watch a man and a woman kiss for twenty minutes on screen, I sure as anything want to see other parts of our culture as well. This was a beautiful film that will be used as a stepping stone for other films of this nature. While I cannot say that it was perfect, it was a start. I cannot wait to see where this film will take us in the future. I suggest this film to anyone that is looking to see a fresh story on a very old tale. Beautiful and amazing!!

Grade: *** out of *****