Movie: My Beautiful Laundrette

I simply love this movie!! The movie was released in 1985--Thatcher England. The gay theme is really secondary to the film as it is played out, yet comes into prominence in the end. I mean, the characters aren't dealing so much with their sexuality as they are dealing with racism, classism and capitalism. The movie stars Gordon Warnecke as Omar and Danial Day-Lewis as Johnny. It takes place in an Asian community is London. Omar, who is Pakistani, lives with his alcoholic father in a run-down apartment--the train partically runs through their livingroom. His father is endearing not abusive. He loves his son and wants him to make a success of his life. Having just graduated from high school, Omar's father gets his younger, more successful, brother to give Omar a summer job before he heads off to college. Omar's uncle gives him his dilapidated laundrette to manage and pretty much do with as he pleases. Omar is elated. He is a really lovable character--a total optimist. He has that capitalistic/entreprenuerial spirit--this is the Reagan/Thatcher years afterall.

Enter Johnny, Omar's childhood playmate who is now hanging out with a tough crowd of neo-nazi's. He is too cool, unemployed and lives the thug life. Omar used to play with all these neo-nazi frecks when he was a little boy, now they wanted his Pakistani ass out of Briton--they claim the Pakistani people are stealing their jobs (sound familiar people). Omar is just over the moon when he sees Johnny again. He literally runs after him. His eyes sparkles when he finally catches up to him. He tells him about the laundrette and ask him to partner with him. I won't give away too much, but let's just say they do whatever it takes to get the laundrette pimped out.

Now as I said, not much is made of the homosexual aspect of their friendship. Omar and Johnny certainly never discusses it. When I first saw this film, I had no idea that Omar and Johnny were doing the nasty. It totally came out of left field. Unfortunately you won't have the element of surprise, afterall I only comment on gay films. But don't worry, the second, and third times I saw the film, it still came out of left field. Knowing this just makes the scenes leading up to it all the more interesting. The way the director reveals the true depth of their friendship is rather shocking, especially considering that the film was made in 1985. During this era (which was not so long ago) gay characters weren't even allowed to hold hands on film. For example, in "Philadelphia" (which was made almost 10 years later--and will not be making my blog) you could 've sworn Tom Hanks was a virgin even though he was dying of AIDS. I'm not going to give it away, but this movie is worth seeing if only for the final scene.

My second favorite scene is when Johnny nonchalantly hugs Omar on the street while his thug friends watch. He is faced away from them and gently licks Omar's face. They both have big smirks on their faces, because their seemingly innocent hug was not innocent at all. Happy viewing. La La.

My next novel posting will be "PINS" by Jim Provenzano.