Electric and pop fable, the film “Jamie” tells the story of a young high school student who dreams of participating in his end of year ball as a drag queen. To discover on Amazon Prime Video.
WHAT IS IT ABOUT ?
At 16, Jamie New doesn’t feel out of place. He dreams of becoming a drag queen and making it his profession. Jamie does not know what his future will look like but one thing is certain: he will cause a sensation! Encouraged by his mother, who adores him, and by his wonderful friends, the young man will overcome prejudices, endure mockery and intimidation to finally emerge from the shadows and reveal to the world who he really is.
Jamie, written by Tom MacRae and directed by Jonathan Butterell.
Available on Amazon Prime Video
WHO IS IT WITH?
The Briton Max Harwood succeeds John McCrea, who played the same character on the boards, and thus holds his very first role in the cinema. Her mother is played by actress Sarah Lancashire, who has already appeared in the series Happy valley, Last Tango In Halifax and The Paradise. Sharon Horgan, from the series Disaster, plays the role of the teacher; Lauren Patel, best friend and actor Richard E. Grant, General Pryde from the new trilogy Star wars and Oscar nominated for Manhattan Counterfeiters, embodies Loco Chanelle, a former drag queen.
WELL WORTH A LOOK ?
At the origin of this film, there is the musical Everybody’s Talking About Jamie, created in 2017. The story, that of a high school student who dreams of becoming a drag queen, is inspired by the life of Jamie Campbell. In 2011, the British teenager was the subject of a documentary for the BBC channel. The journalists followed the daily life of the young man, torn between his passion and the mockery of which he was the target at school. Today, as the real Jamie has become a recognized artist, his story continues to inspire. After the theater, here is the cinema.
Colorful, pop and flamboyant, this adaptation continues to carry the room’s positive message with elegance. Thanks to an effective staging, which tries many things, Jamie seduces thanks to his rhythmic songs and his well-choreographed tableaux, each more successful than the last. In the skin of the title role, Max Harwood delivers an electric interpretation, making his character charismatic and endearing, alongside a touching Richard E. Grant.
Amazon Prime Video Max Harwood and Richard E. Grant in “Jamie”.
Some will find, in this story, a bit of Billy Elliot. Set in a small village in England, this fable also follows the fate of an extraordinary hero who must face the hostility of the most ignorant to impose his dreams. While the subject of on-screen representation has never been more important, Jamie offers a beautiful showcase to an often caricatured and invisible culture. An ode to the difference not to be missed.
