The Line of Beauty (TV series)
| The Line of Beauty | |
|---|---|
 |
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| Genre | Drama |
| Based on | The Line of Beauty by Alan Hollinghurst |
| Written by | Andrew Davies |
| Directed by | Saul Dibb |
| Composer(s) | Martin Phipps |
| Country of origin | United Kingdom |
| Original language(s) | English |
| No. of series | 1 |
| No. of episodes | 3 (list of episodes) |
| Production | |
| Executive producer(s) |
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| Producer(s) | Kate Lewis |
| Cinematography | David Odd |
| Running time | 180 minutes |
| Release | |
| Original network | |
| Picture format | 16:9 576i |
| Audio format | Stereo |
| Original release | 17 May – 31 May 2006 |
| External links | |
| Website | |
The Line of Beauty is a British drama television series that was first broadcast on BBC Two on 17 May 2006. The three-part series, written by Andrew Davies and directed by Saul Dibb, is an adaptation of the novel The Line of Beauty by Alan Hollinghurst.
Nick Guest, a recent Oxford graduate from a middle-class family, is invited to stay in the home of his best friend, Toby Fedden, son of Tory MP Gerald Fedden, while the family, minus their bipolar daughter Cat, are out on holiday in France. Nick is asked by Cat and Toby's mother, Rachel, to keep an eye on Cat as she had a history of cutting herself, and to contact them if Cat were to have any issues. Not long after the rest of the Feddens are gone, Cat does have a minor episode, but after Nick helps her, she begs him to not contact her parents and he agrees. They quickly form a close friendship, and when the Feddens return, Rachel is so impressed by how well Nick and Cat bonded that she insists Nick stays on as a permanent lodger. This arrangement allows Nick to be brought into the lifestyle of the Feddens, giving him an insider's look at life in upper-class English society. With Cat's assistance, Nick meets Leo, with whom Nick falls madly in love. However, this romance is short-lived when Leo breaks up with Nick to go back to his ex Pete, who was starting to show symptoms of having AIDS before the condition became widely known.
Nick has become fully integrated into the Fedden family. Nick had become involved with another friend from Oxford, Wani, the son of a rich Lebanese businessman, but because of Wani's cultural and economic background, the relationship had to be kept secret. Nick and Wani have started a magazine and film production company together, which also becomes a convenient cover for their relationship. Due to Nick's exposure to the lifestyles of the rich, he becomes involved with drugs and more hedonistic behaviour. Nick accompanies Gerald to Nick's home town of Barwick, and while there Nick stumbles upon Gerald having sex with one of his secretaries.
Later, the Feddens are again on holiday in France and this time invite Nick and Wani to join them. While there, things in the Fedden family become tense, with Cat becoming rebellious against her father's involvement with a shady investor and showing signs that she is no longer taking her meds, Nick becoming more open about his homosexuality, and Gerald all but telling Nick to remain silent about the affair. When everyone returns to England, the Feddens have a party for Margaret Thatcher. Prior to the party Nick goes to a bar to get drugs, and while there sees his ex, Leo, who is showing symptoms of AIDS. Fearful, Nick avoids approaching Leo and quickly leaves the bar. At the party, Nick makes a strong impression with Thatcher by inviting her to dance and making the party a smashing success.
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