Different for Girls (1996)

Unconventional shoestring projects that would never otherwise see the light of day, transcend their own inherent rubbishness of execution when actors of the calibre of Steven Mackintosh ("Our Mutual Friend") and Rupert Graves ("The Tenant of Wildfell Hall") are involved. "Different for Girls" won't please lovers of the normal, middle of the road, but anyone who has any time at all for something a bit…different, will surely enjoy this.Karl and Paul were friends at school: good enough friends that the adult Paul – restless punk spirit crashing against the bars of his cage - recognises Karl instantly when confronted with him at the scene of a traffic accident; even though Karl appears to have become Kim. But – and it's Graves' skill that you understand this straightaway – he's not put off, or scornful; he's intrigued.Kim, formerly Karl, is resolutely living the most dowdy, normal life she can dream up as a newly post-op woman. With her drab clothes from M&S, her demeanour of invisibility and her steady job, she just wants to fit in. Her quiet dignity transcends her still-masculine appearance; Mackintosh's Kim really believes she was always meant to be a woman, and she's been on a hard and lonely journey to reach her present delicate equilibrium. The last thing she thinks she needs is Paul's ramshackle life rudely trespassing on hers.Their mutual attraction, and awkward, stumbling progress in their evolving relationship, are explored with great depth of feeling by both actors. For all his bravado, Kim is much braver than Paul. The scene where they dance in Paul's bedroom is heartbreakingly truthful. The film isn't even diminished by its slightly hurried, TV-drama ending. (I'm completely bypassing the film's pointless suburban subplot…Saskia Reeves, oh dear.) I love the film's punky spirit, and its very human conclusions about love: that no matter how hard you try to live safe, life can be chaotic; that a decision that may shock society around you, may be worth the heartache or chaos for the good it can do two human beings. A good, oddball romantic comedy, give it a try.

It's like this: "I've got a great idea for a movie, a heterosexual man falling for a transsexual, but I can't seem to make it interesting enough so I'll throw in the transsexuals' sisters drama, some prudish outfits for the tranny, a penis shot and two people getting unjustly arrested to make it interesting." This was a bad story with terrible acting (except Rupert Graves) and a terribly prudishly dressed transsexual. This is completely overrated by the people who've rated this movie. The idea is wonderful, somewhat "Crying Game"-ish, but for a similar story (man falling in love with transsexual) done much better see "Crying Game".

The premise of this film is a good one - two boys are best friends at school and then on meeting later one of them has had a gender reassignment (Karl becomes Kim). How will his/her former friend react when they meet again?In a difficult role, Steven Mackintosh does surprisingly well as Kim (except for a nude scene which is distracting for all the wrong reasons - that's when they really needed a girl); while Rupert Graves struggles with his feelings as the usually bigoted Paul whose preconceptions are challenged.'Different for Girls' has a lot to say about society's attitude to hims who becomes hers (and vice versa, by implication) and almost succeeds in getting to a conclusion as valuable as films such as 'My Beautiful Laundrette' were to gay liberation. It isn't really anyone's fault that it falls short of expectations, and the fact that it was made at all gives us hope of an excellent movie on the same topic in the future.

Sweet, unafraid; understated and not in your face. Why in the Hell do movies about gay guys seem to be so much better than Lesbian Flix? Anybody know? Oh well; nice story, predictable and appealing to those who like "chick flix" and gender benders; in that order. I liked it. Sure, gay guys will love this; Doesn't take chances like Jordan's flick; Something of a "G" rated Crying Game. But, there is a great line "hey 'it' fits" says Prentiss, which really does bump this into "R" rated fare, during a sweet sexual moment between the leads. But, in general, this is a movie about "fitting in". And, as that this movie does convince and probably one of the better "indies" of 97. Enjoy