GET REAL
UK, 1998, 111 minutes, Colour.
Ben Silverstone, Brad Gorton, Charlotte Britten, Stacy A. Hart, Kate Mc Enery, Patrick Nielson.
Directed by Simon Shore.
Get Real is based on a play by Patrick Wilde, What’s Wrong With Angry? The play is opened out for the screen, focusing on the town of Basingstoke and the school which the main characters attend.
The film is about coming out, the focus on the central character, a sensitive boy who is persecuted at school but who is homosexual and actually cruises the parks where he meets one of the head boys who keeps his sexual identity secret. The film shows the bonds between the two as well as the fears of the boy who hasn't come out and his wanting to keep his reputation.
The film focuses on the boys, their struggles, their relationships with their friends, with their families. With its school setting, the film offers discussion material for teenagers who want to probe these questions of identity. However, the behaviour of the characters in cruising in the local parks seems somewhat precocious.
1. Impact of the film? For what audience? Teenage audience? Parents and teachers? Providing a sound basis for discussing issues of sexual identity?
2. The town of Basingstoke, the ordinariness, homes and streets? The parks and the cruising? The school, classrooms, playing fields? An authentic atmosphere that audiences could identify with? The musical score and the range of songs from the Doctor Who theme to Aretha Franklin?
3. The title, the challenge, as applicable to Steven and John? The impact of the original name of the play, What’s Wrong With Angry?
4. The character of Steven, being in Sixth Form, at home with his parents, his studies? His friendship with Linda, her knowing his secret? The reaction of the students, the macho types and their queer-baiting him, just on appearances? The credibility of his going to the park, the encounter with the older man, the married man? The meeting with John? His reputation in the school? The encounter, their discussions, wanting to forget about it, John and his attraction towards Steven, opening up, the sexual encounter, love? In the park, the police, John getting away, Steven and the police taking him to his parents, the reaction of the parents? The issue of coming out? John and his fears? Steven and his studies, the essay, his anonymous essay, Get Real, his perspectives on sexual orientation and the repercussions in growing up and in school? John and Steven and the embrace, John and his bashing Steven to save his own reputation? The prize-giving, Steven’s speech, the support of family and friends? Steven and his friendship with Linda, the issue of the driving test? The L-plates – and driving off into the future?
5. John, his reputation in the school, macho type, his friends? His attitude towards Steven? The irony of his cruising in the park, the irony of his encounter with Steven? His embarrassment, the decision to ignore it? His visiting Steven, his talking to him, his ability to open up? The sexual encounter and its repercussions? The emotional consequences? Their behaviour in the park, the police? John’s getting away, his fears? The embrace and his bashing of Steven to save himself?
6. Linda, her knowing the secret, her friendship with Steven, what they had in common, the issue of the driving test, her crush on the driving instructor? Her support of Steven? The end and their both getting their driving licences?
7. The portrait of the school staff, the principal, the decisions to be made about students’ behaviour? The build-up to the prize-giving? Steven’s essay? Coming out? The response?
8. The parents, their coping with the issues of the sexual orientation of their son? Their understanding it or not?
9. Issues of sexuality and behaviour, judging by appearances, prejudices? Secrecy? Steven, his behaviour, his home, jokes? The décor of his room? At the dance – and surreptitiously looking at John? The film’s advocacy of honesty and its benefits for teenagers coming out?
