Watch A Taste of Honey

In 1961, the British drama film A Taste of Honey, directed by Tony Richardson, made waves by portraying taboo themes such as teenage pregnancy, mixed-race relationships, homosexuality, and poverty, all of which were considered socially unacceptable and controversial at that time. The movie was adapted from a 1958 play of the same name by Shelagh Delaney, who co-wrote the screenplay with Richardson.

The story revolves around a 17-year-old working-class girl named Jo (Rita Tushingham), who lives with her promiscuous and alcoholic mother, Helen (Dora Bryan), in a dismal apartment in Salford, an industrial city near Manchester. Jo is a restless and independent spirit who dreams of breaking free from her dreary existence and finding love and happiness. She meets a black sailor named Jimmy (Paul Danquah) and falls for him, despite their racial differences. However, their relationship is put to the test when Jimmy is called to sea for several months.

Meanwhile, Helen brings home a new lover, Peter (Robert Stephens), a gentle and refined homosexual man who takes an interest in Jo and becomes her confidant and friend. Peter encourages Jo to pursue her creative talents and helps her secure a job in a shoe store. Jo also befriends a gay art student named Geoffrey (Murray Melvin), who lives upstairs and shares her love of jazz music.

As Jo tries to navigate her tumultuous relationships with Jimmy, Helen, Peter, and Geoffrey, she discovers she is pregnant and must decide whether to have an abortion or raise the child alone. However, her mother sees the pregnancy as an opportunity to marry a wealthy older man and move up in society, not considering Jo's feelings or wishes.

The film's cinematography by Walter Lassally captures the bleakness and beauty of Salford, with its towering smokestacks, run-down buildings, narrow streets, and melancholic blues music. The performances by the cast are exceptional, with Tushingham delivering a remarkable portrayal of Jo's vulnerability, resilience, and youthful spirit, while Bryan brings depth and complexity to the troubled and misunderstood character of Helen. Stephens provides a sensitive and nuanced portrayal of Peter, a man ahead of his time and ostracized by his peers for his sexuality.

A Taste of Honey is a poignant and thought-provoking film that challenges conventional norms and prejudices of its time and still resonates today. It sheds light on the struggles and aspirations of working-class women and minorities and their quest for dignity, freedom, and human connection. The film also explores the themes of motherhood, friendship, sexuality, and art with sensitivity and honesty. Its impact on the British film industry and social consciousness cannot be overstated, and it remains a landmark of British New Wave cinema.

A Taste of Honey is a 1961 drama with a runtime of 1 hour and 40 minutes. It has received mostly positive reviews from critics and viewers, who have given it an IMDb score of 7.4.