It’s a powerful, cerulean-tinged debut from filmmaker Georgia Oakley with timely reminders about the toll of systemic bigotry—the same kind that can be seen today with gender panic.

Blue Jean’s real power comes from its examination of the human costs of living in fear.

The triumph of Blue Jean is that it takes time showing the queer lives at stake. This is not a dour film. It has hot lesbian sex, sweaty snapshots of queer bars, and, ultimately, portrays the power of community.

What makes Blue Jean so memorable is not just McEwen’s stellar performance but the delicate balance between a plot that moves like a thriller and the beautifully nuanced approach to secondary characters like Jean’s sister.