Different for Girls movie storyline. Karl Foyle and Paul Prentice were best mates at school in the Seventies. But when they meet again in present-day London things are definitely not the same. Karl is now Kim, a transsexual, and she has no desire to stir up the past while she’s busy forging a neat and orderly new life. Prentice, on the other hand, has charm but is a social disaster stuck in a dead-end job. His main talent is for getting them both into trouble.
Amid the squabbles, they start to fall in love. One night, Kim invites Prentice to a romantic dinner at her flat. Prentice, finding the seduction unexpectedly effective, freaks out. He proceeds to make a public display of both of them and winds up in court. Humiliated and angry, Kim runs away. Only she can save Prentice now, but will true love triumph for a new made woman and an aging punk?
Different for Girls is a 1996 British/French drama film in which one of the protagonists is a transsexual woman. The film is directed by Richard Spence and written by Tony Marchant, starring Rupert Graves, Steven Mackintosh, Miriam Margoyles, Saskia Reeves, Charlotte Coleman, Neil Dudgeon, Nisha K. Nayar, Lia Williams and Ian Dury.
About the Story
Paul Prentice (Rupert Graves) and Karl Foyle (Steven Mackintosh) were close friends during their secondary school days. Paul used to defend Karl from the violent attacks of their classmates, who ridiculed Karl for being effeminate.
Some years later they are reunited literally by accident, when Paul, on the motorcycle he rides as a courier, runs into the cab that Karl (who has undergone sexual reassignment surgery and is named Kim) is riding in. Paul is initially surprised to discover that Karl has become Kim, but asks her out to get re-acquainted.
Their first date goes badly and Kim assumes that it’s because Paul is nervous about being seen in public with her. Paul brings her flowers at her workplace (as a verse writer for a greeting card company) and they go out again. This date works out better and they end up back at Paul’s place listening to music.
The two continue to spend time together, with Paul teaching Kim how to ride a motorcycle. Their next dinner date, at Kim’s place, is disastrous. Paul, struggling to understand transgender issues, drinks too much and ends up in the courtyard outside Kim’s apartment, exposing his penis and ranting. The police arrive and arrest him for indecent exposure. Kim places a hand on one of the officers and he arrests her for obstruction. In the police van, one of the officers makes crude remarks about Kim and places his hand under her skirt. Paul intervenes and is beaten by the officer.
At the police station, Paul is charged with assaulting the officer. Kim, his only witness, is terrified of being in trouble and intimidated by the police into keeping silent. She flees to her sister’s home. At Paul’s trial on the assault charges, Kim is able to gather her courage and testify for Paul. While he is still convicted, he receives only a token fine. A reporter at the courthouse tries to buy Kim and Paul’s story but they refuse. They return to Kim’s place, where Paul is surprised and delighted to discover that he and Kim are sexually as well as emotionally compatible; they make love.
Different for Girls (1997)
Directed by: Richard Spence
Starring: Rupert Graves, Steven Mackintosh, Miriam Margoyles, Saskia Reeves, Charlotte Coleman, Neil Dudgeon, Nisha K. Nayar, Lia Williams, Ian Dury
Screenplay by: Tony Marchant
Production Design by: Grenville Horner
Cinematography by: Sean Van Hales
Film Editing by: David Gamble
Costume Design by: Susannah Buxton
Art Direction by: Melanie Allen
Music by: Stephen Warbeck
MPAA Rating: R for nudity, brief graphic sexuality and strong language.
Distributed by: First Look International
Release Date: September 12, 1997
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