Mind blowing that this was a feature debut for writer-director Georgia Oakley; with the exception of one brief sequence that didn’t quite hit, it’s astonishingly clear-eyed, intelligent and moving. She captured intimate, note-perfect performances from teens and adults alike, and every detail rings true for period and location (Newcastle, 1988, Thatcher’s Britain). It’s a beautifully restrained piece of work and yet the emotion hit me like a mack truck. A film about the deeply personal and pernicious effects of Section 28 has every right to be blisteringly angry, yet Blue Jean is also tender, and funny, and profoundly heartfelt in its portrayal of queer community. It makes a gal want to dig up Maggie Thatcher for a thorough kicking.