I saw this more than 30 years ago upon its original theatrical release and loved it. Watching it again now and it is a reminder of just how much has changed since those late 80s. Changed, not so much in the sense that it was born of the Thatcher years, with perceived social unfairness and austerity but that the film could have been made back then. For it certainly could not be made now. It is ironic that for all the talk of how understanding we all are of each other and our orientation, we are not permitted to say these things outside of an agreed context and certainly not make jokes about them. Some complained at the time that this was not a true reflection of life on a deprived estate, that people did not behave like this and girls never. Unfortunately there are probably more people now inclined to deny that there were ever such people and certainly not now. To those in denial, perhaps it is safer to stay away but for everybody else this is an essential slice of cinematic realism with wonderfully naturalistic performances that is really, laugh out loud funny. I note that the main actors, for whom this was pretty much their first work, have gone on to decent careers but sadly not the writer, Andrea Dunbar who died a couple of years after the film's release. She came from the very estate where the film was shot and did not intend her portrayal as criticism. She just took the opportunity to write about her circumstances and those around her and make people laugh. I can never remember whether she was Rita or Sue but I guess it doesn't matter, just that this tiny but authentic window on a life, this spotlight on the largely unseen and unacknowledged, should still shine and even if it be that we refuse to learn from it at least that we might have a good laugh.