Search - The Two Of Us [DVD] on DVD

Truth and beauty

M. FUSCO | NEW YORK, NY | 05/21/2007

(5 out of 5 stars)

"Twenty years ago I fell in love with this little gem, its message, and its two extraordinary leads. I have treasured my VHS copy of this heart-rending and -warming sixty-minute film, and am now delighted to see it on DVD to find the wider audience it deserves.

Phil (Lee Whitlock) is an ebullient high school lad who loves two people: his best mate Matthew (stunning Jason Rush), and his banal, mean-spirited girlfriend. She wants him to choose between the two. Considering Matthew's meltingly blue eyes, that seems too easy. In any case, Phil has no problem with his bisexuality and considers himself twice blessed. But not everyone shares his joy: the boys are taunted, intimidated, threatened, and attacked by classmates and family, receive no help from school authorities, and are hassled by police. Matthew and Phil run off on a "honeymoon" to find a place where they can be themselves. Cue up 'Somewhere' from West Side Story. They end up at a seaside resort, where Phil's girlfriend shows up and pressures him to return home with her -- and leave Matthew. The boys find that the most important thing is, no matter who is against them, they have each other.

One cannot help but fall in love with Phil and Matthew as they fall in love with each other. Their beauty, innocence, and struggle for freedom will melt your heart and may even restore your faith in our future.

It's hard to imagine how such a sweet story could offend anyone but, after much controversy in England, it ended up being shown at midnight though it was made for an after-school audience. The BBC, apparently, was reluctance to present a positive picture of loving young gays, or to educate teenage viewers.

Such reaction reminded us that we have not come so very far since 1905 when E.M. Forster stated privately that he could not publish his gay novel "Maurice" because it had a happy ending."

Rough Cut

Rolando A. Perez | Los Angeles, CA USA | 01/25/2008

(5 out of 5 stars)

"If you liked "Beautiful Thing", You must see this movie. The predecessor, it is also a gem, a rough cut diamond. Quite old (1987), the British did a good job in presenting the seriousness of being gay. Set in an era that homosexuality was still considered deviant, the story evolves around two young boys, Matthew and Philip. Unlike Jaime and Ste from "Beautiful Thing" and Phil, Matthew (Jason Rush) is an extremely beautiful kid with similar body. A swimmer, he dropped out school and hangs around the swimming pool of the local school which Phil (Lee Whitlock) attends. They are both more than buddies but in love with each other.

Phil starts questioning his sexuality after an initial lesson by a teacher in the beginning of the movie. Phil has a girlfriend, Sharon. Sharon realizes that something is going on between Phil and Matthew. Matthew is already known as gay. Phil does come out and splits up with Sharon. Matthew gets attacked by unknown assailants. His father confronts him with some gay magazines.

Phil and Matthew decided to split town, heading toward the south seaport, hitch hiking. They call it their honeymoon. On the beach they get caught sleeping together in a small tent, they befriend a homeless girl who finally gets caught by the law. The movie ends with Sharon coming to see them, Phil planning to return with her. But love triumphs, Phil returns to Matthew at the beach, and they run together into the ocean.

This is a nice love story. There is no nudity. Both boys wear underwear and swim suits in the shower and locker rooms. There is some hugging and kissing. This was made and produced by the BBC for TV (the original was edited and cut because of the times) explaining the conservatism in the movie. Again the English is rough (like a "Beautiful Thing".) I tend to be more positive because of my trip to England, and being around British people."

Better Late Than Never

Amos Lassen | Little Rock, Arkansas | 03/21/2007

(4 out of 5 stars)

""The Two of Us"

Better Late than Never

Amos Lassen and Cinema Pride

Finally out on DVD is "The Two of Us", one of the most controversial film ever screened on British TV. It was well worth the wait. "The Two of Us" is the story of two school boys from Brighton Beach who fall in love and then openly confess their feelings for each other. When it was produced two versions were made of the film--one gay and one straight. Both deal with young love and its ramifications. Considering it was made in 1987, it is quite graphic and has a gay kiss--something rarely seen at that time.
The movie is beautiful in its sensitivity. The two boys are young and innocent and good looking. Matthew is a recent graduate and Phil, his best friend is a bubbly senior. Phil knows he has strong feelings for Matthew but he also has feelings for his girlfriend. He is taunted at school and both boys are harassed and tormented by families, friends and authorities. The two finally defiantly proclaim their love but Phil's indecision as well as his bisexual bent cause indecision and their relationship takes a while to develop. But develop it does and the two young men give us an uplifting look at love and romance and a glimpse into the world of young men we rarely get to see.
This is far from the movie it could have been but we have been tempered by what we see on the screen today. After "Queer as Folk" almost everything else looks mild but "The Two of Us" is to be applauded for what it does portray. Above all it shows us to remain true to oneself.
Jason Rush and Lee Whitlock are perfect as the boys. Not only are they convincing as actors it is easy to see how they fell in love. As a piece of our past this is a film that must be seen and to see it is to understand how little movies like this pave the way for what we have today.
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