East Is East
Year of release: 1999
Directed by: Damien O'Donnell
United Kingdom
Salford, 1971. Proud Pakistani chip shop owner George Khan lives in a terraced house with his white wife Ella and their seven children. Determined to raise them as traditional Muslims, George sends sons Nazir, Abdul, Tariq, Saleem, Maneer and Sajid to the mosque and makes daughter Meenah dress in saris. However the kids will not submit quietly.
When George arranges a marriage for the eldest son Nazir, he flees mid-ceremony. Undeterred, George plots to bring Tariq and Abdul into line by marrying them to the daughters of Bradford butcher Mr Shah. When Tariq discovers the plan, he smashes the gold watches George has brought as wedding gifts. Maneer refuses to tell George who was responsible. When Ella tries to stop George beating Maneer George turns on her. Nazir returns home but a bruised Ella tells him to leave before George gets back.
The next day the uptight Shahs pay a visit with their daughters. Art student Saleem arrives with his latest artwork - a lifesize, latex pudenda - which accidentally falls into Mrs Shah's lap. As the Shahs leave in disgust, George turns on Ella, who tells him that if he can't accept his family as they are he should leave. He does. Ella finds a tearful George sitting alone in the chip shop. They drink a cup of tea together.
(Synopsis from Sight & Sound/ BFI Screenonline)
For more information and an analysis of East Is East see BFI Screenonline.
For an interview with the Ayub Khan-Din, who wrote the screenplay, see kamera.co.uk
For an interview with Leslee Udwin, the producer of East is East, see Film Four
Filed under: Asian British | Coming of age | Fathers | Mothers | Patriarchy | Queer diaspora | Religion