British LGBTQ+ drama has sex, language, homophobia, smoking.
Parents Need to Know
Why Age 15+?
Any Positive Content?
Sex, Romance & Nudity
a lot
There are a couple of sex scenes. Two characters kiss passionately in bed, and in one sequence, one appears to be performing oral sex on the other. Both characters' breasts are also seen. In the gym showers at school, students are seen naked from behind. A character is also seen topless in the bath, and students at the school mimic oral sex gestures using their hands and mouths.
Did you know you can flag iffy content? Adjust limits for Sex, Romance & Nudity in your kid's entertainment guide.
Language used includes "f--k," as well as derogatory homophobic slurs such as "d-ke." Also sexual terms such as "c--k" and "clit." A character gives the middle finger to someone.
Did you know you can flag iffy content? Adjust limits for Language in your kid's entertainment guide.
Lot of smoking of cigarettes, reflecting the 1980s time period. For example, teachers are even seen smoking at school, which was considered normal at the time. Characters drink shots and pints at a local bar. A character perhaps drink drives, though it's unclear. A character drinks straight vodka at a kid's birthday party.
Did you know you can flag iffy content? Adjust limits for Drinking, Drugs & Smoking in your kid's entertainment guide.
A teenager is bullied at school for being gay. There is an altercation between two students, which results in one suffering a cut knee. Someone is falsely accused of sexual assault.
Did you know you can flag iffy content? Adjust limits for Violence & Scariness in your kid's entertainment guide.
The film displays the humanity in us all and how no matter what our sexual preference is, we all experience the same emotions. The importance of being a good role model to others, especially to those in need. Reflecting the political situation at the time, there are instances of homophobia including by teachers, though these attitudes are clearly framed as wrong.
Diverse Representations
some
The film is set within the LGBTQ+ community in the north of England during the 1980s. The majority of characters are female, with barely a male character of note within the production. Most characters are White, particularly within the school setting, though the local gay bar is shown to be more diverse. A drag queen also features, briefly.
Jean is flawed and makes mistakes, but she's a relatable, honest character. She doesn't stand up for student Lois, who is gay and is falsely accused of accosting a fellow classmate. However, she opens up to Lois about keeping her own sexuality secret and how hard that is, eventually setting a good example to her.
Parents Need to Know
Parents need to know that Blue Jean is a powerful film set in the north of England during the 1980s about a closeted gay teacher whose sexuality is threatened to be revealed by one of her students. Rich with political context, and the anti-gay rhetoric that was spouted -- and practised -- by politicians at the time, the film's central character, Jean (Rosy McEwen), is relatable and nuanced making it easy to root for her, despite the mistakes she makes. There are occasional sex scenes, with Jean and her partner, Viv (Kerrie Hayes), seen topless and partaking in oral sex. There is also non-sexual nudity (from behind) when students shower at school. The language is strong but not too frequent. This includes "f--k" and the homophobic slur "d-ke." A teenage girl is bullied at school for being gay. Smoking is rife and teachers are even seen having cigarettes at school. There is also a fair bit of drinking, especially during the scenes set in the local gay nightclub. To stay in the loop on more movies like this, you can sign up for weekly Family Movie Night emails.
There aren't any parent reviews yet. Be the first to review this title.
What's the Story?
BLUE JEANis the story of a gym teacher at a high school in the north east of England, named Jean (Rosy McEwen). Set in 1988, against the backdrop of Britain's Conservative government, Jean is gay but keeps her sexuality secret from most people as she understands that due to the country's laws, if it were to become public, she could lose her job. Her anxiety on this front is ramped up when her student Lois (Lucy Halliday) sees her at a local gay bar, which takes a toll on Jean, and on her relationship with her partner Viv (Kerrie Hayes).
Thisis a striking debut feature from Georgia Oakley, that has an honesty and grit comparable to the works of Shane Meadows and Clio Barnard. Blue Jean is helped along by a simply breath-taking turn from McEwen as the film's central character. Jean is someone who is flawed and makes mistakes. One error in judgment in particular -- which could be seen as a betrayal of her own community -- might have turned the viewer against her in some films. But such is the nuanced, human display, and the tenderness that McEwen depicts, you stay on her side, throughout -- which is essential. Though set in the late 1980s, the themes are sadly resonant today. The notion of not being free to be yourself is still an issue that many in the LGBTQ+ community continue to contend with today. The film has a tension that runs right the way through it. But there is also a gentleness to it, making for a film that is both memorable and exquisitely executed.
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Families can talk about some of the prejudice the LGBTQ+ community faced in Blue Jean. Were you shocked? Do you think things have changed? What more can be done?
How did the movie portray sex and relationships? Was it affectionate? Respectful? Parents, talk to your teens about your own values regarding sex and relationships.
There is a lot of smoking in the movie. How have attitudes toward smoking changed from when the film was set in the 1980s to today? What other differences from that time period did you notice?
Would you describe Jean as a positive role model? Why, or why not? What makes a good role model?
Talk about the strong language used in the movie. Did it seem necessary or excessive? What did it contribute to the movie?
Research shows a connection between kids' healthy self-esteem and positive portrayals in media. That's why we've added a new "Diverse Representations" section to our reviews that will be rolling out on an ongoing basis. You can help us help kids by
suggesting a diversity update.
Common Sense Media's unbiased ratings are created by expert reviewers and aren't influenced by the product's creators or by any of our funders, affiliates, or partners.
By Stefan Pape
,
based on child development research. How do we rate?
