East is East
A Film Four production (1999)
Classification: 15
Catalogue Number: VCD0045
Producer: Leslee Unwin
Director: Damien O'Donnell
Screenplay: Ayub Khan-Din
Starring: Om Puri (George Khan), Linda Bassett (Ella), Jimi Mistry (Tariq) and a host of other great supporting actors.
Rating: (4 flames)
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Om Puri is simply brilliant as the Pakistani father of seven children. The film is a hilarious 1970's take on children of a mixed marriage being brought up in Northern England. The family live above their fish & chip shop in Salford Manchester; among the terraced houses and racial prejudices of that era.

The movie starts with an Easter Parade when the children of George Khan (Om Puri) run behind the procession in back alleys to avoid being spotted by their father. They don't want him to see that they are participating in a largely Christian celebration. The next scene is eldest son Nazir's traditional Muslim wedding. However at the eleventh hour Nazir can't go through with it and runs off.

His father, deeply mortified removes his Nazir's from the wall, banishes him from memory and concentrates his efforts on marrying off his other two sons. The film is warm, touching and most importantly completely believable.

The children, whilst afraid of their father, defy him at every opportunity. Tariq (Jimi Mistry) and Abdul (Raji james) scoot down the drainpipe to go clubbing at the nearest Salford den, drink in excess and date English girls. They fry bacon sandwiches when their parents are out and sister Meenah (Archie Panjabi) dances to the lovely tune 'In hil lo go ne' in the backyard when they ought to be working. One even suspects that Saleem's (Chris Bisson) fascination with the female form will lead to a disastrous outcome.

The plans for his sons' marriages aren't proceeding well and we see George becoming more and more enraged at his inability to reconcile the behaviour of his children with what he thinks it ought to be. This is the real nub of the film. George is deeply attached to the political and moral codes of this homeland that he himself, forsook in order to marry Englishwoman Ella (Linda Bassett). Yet he cannot understand why his children don't have the same allegiances despite all his efforts at indoctrinating them with his beliefs.

Certain family scenes are wonderful. Their day trip to Bradford (graffitied 'Bradistan' on a roadside signpost) sees George meeting his sons' prospective in-laws. When the brides' photograph is shown to him, he gulps down his disappointment at seeing two of the ugliest girls around. I was on the floor with laughter at this point. Anyone who has ever been to a "bride viewing" ceremony will surely agree.

There are serious messages in this film and one can see how it can offend some. But the story is poignant and credible and the acting is superb. Even seven-year-old Sajid's (Jordan Routledge) penchant for wearing a hooded parka rings true to home. At some points in the film I felt that that's exactly what me and my siblings were like.

The culture clash continues to a violent showdown between George & his wife Ella. Like reality, what happens after is absolutely spot on.

Every decade or so we get a film like this. Anyone remember 'My Beautiful Launderette' or ' Bhaji on the Beach'? East is East is the grittiest of them all and, in that, probably the most credible.

This film is definitely one to see and show your children.

Real fans can shimmy on down to the official website at www.eastiseast.co.uk.

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