This sensitive movie is 'A Different Story'

By Donna Chernin

It's called "A Different Story" because it is.

It used to be that boy met girl, they would have their share of traumas and they would wind up either living happily ever after or going their separate ways.

Then a more recent variation on the boy-meets-girl routine would have one of the two people (it wouldn't matter but usually it would be the fellow) be gay.

Now how about both parties being of different sexual persuasions? The fellow a homosexual and the girl a lesbian. How would that ever work? It is an interesting concept, all right.

Admittedly, neither person would feel threatened by the other. They would be good friends first before becoming romantically involved, always a wise idea. And they would probably take delight in the sensibilities of the other. For example, if a woman feels like a clod in the kitchen and abhors cleaning, it would be nice to have a man about the house who can effortlessly whip up a souffle and who is handy with the

vacuum.

For its first half, "A Different Story" engagingly brings out these positive aspects of a homosexual and a lesbian meeting each other and growing to deeply care.

It all starts when Stella, a real estate agent, offers Albert, a casual homosexual friend, her place for the

₪ In Review

'A Different Story'

Directed by Paul Aaron, written by

· Henry Olek, produced by Alan Belkin, Avco Embassy Pictures. Adult.

•

Stella

Albert

Phyllis Sills

Meg Foster

Perry King Valerie Curtin Peter Donat

night after he has been jilted by his wealthy conductor lover. It all ends several years later after they have gotten married, had a child and all sorts of other messy complications. It should have ended sooner, pretty much after the couple changed the nature of their relationship from friends to lovers.

The problems with "A Different Story" lies more in its script than execution. The acting is just right, with Perry King managing a fine transition from slightly effeminate mannerisms as a homosexual to a more macho figure later in the story. Meg Foster as the gal is pretty constant throughout the movie, depicted as a strong, sensitive woman.

There are other noteworthy portrayals, most especially a moving one from Valerie Curtin as the pitiful girlfriend of Stella. She plays a schoolteacher who fears that her children will be able to detect her sexual inclinations and panics at the thought of losing her girlfriend, especially to a man.

Essentially, after Stella and Albert Continued on Page 5-B