Director: Damien O'Donnell
Starring: Om Puri, Linda Bassett, Jordan Routledge, Archie Panjabi, Emil Marwa, Chris Bisson, Jimi Mistry, Raji James, Ian Aspinall, Emma Rydal, John
Bardon, Lesley Nicol, Gary Damer, Ruth Jones
Related Links
East is East (1999) - IMDB
A Quick Chat with Ayub Khan-Din
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The clash between British and Asian cultural values not only underpins
East is East, a bittersweet northern comedy, it drives every scene from the off. In the opening sequence, a Christian parade replete with Virgin Mary
icons winds its way down a tight, terraced Manchester street. In its midst are
six Anglo-Asian kids: the Khan family. As their English mother looks on,
their Pakistani chip-shop owning dad, George (Om Puri), makes his way back
from the mosque. The news of his arrival sparks a mini-stampede and his
children sharply disperse, rather than face his wrath.
George (played sympathetically by Om Puri) is a character both
intransigent and violent, the root of the family conflict. And within this conflict
each member of the Khan family occupies a different position along the
cultural fault line: Nazir the eldest is gay and, after fleeing an arranged
marriage, is disowned by his father; Abdul, the second eldest, is caught in the
family crossfire; Tariq is a handsome, party-loving rebel who rejects his Asian
heritage, calling himself Tony; Maneer is a religious Muslim who
believes that his family will never be regarded as properly 'English'; Saleem is
an art student who pretends to be studying engineering to appease his
family; Meenah, the only daughter, is a loud tomboy who favours kicking a ball
to wearing a sari; and finally, the permanently parka-clad Sajid (played
movingly by 12-year-old Jordan Routledge), is an observer of the unfolding
family drama.
Although addressing serious social issues, East is East is neither
heavy-handed nor formulaic. Set with minutely observed period detail in
1971, the backdrop, including the India-Pakistan war over Kashmir and
incendiary Enoch Powell immigration speeches, has depressing current
relevance. So do - as a spate of current news stories testify - the
pressures of 'izzat' (family honour) and 'sharam' (personal honour) that
bear down on the Khan children. While challenging oppressive elements of
traditional Pakistani culture, East is East, initially a successful West
End play, nevertheless celebrates Britain's cultural diversity.
As such, it's a timely antidote - and a good deal funnier - than the
ethnically-cleansed pap that is Notting Hill.
Reviewed by Mark Olden
Reader comments about East is East
Mark Colerangle (kweku896@aol.com) writes:
east is east is a very clever movie. it consists of a multistranded narrative which gives us many ways of looking at the film. i realy enjoyed the range of charectors an id lable this film a must see....
Shiku (Email address withheld) writes:
I tis a dangerously funny film which shows reality though the life of an Anglo-Asian family
Satya (Kaulachar@aol.com) writes:
East is East is hilarious and yet in some ways serious. I doubt it represents Britain in the 21st century -it's more 1960s 70s based. Nonetheless, it touches on important multicultural issues - the joys and pains of living in a multicultural community. The funniest part is when all the kids are eating sausages and bacon, and the older brother comes in with the air freshener, cos the dad's goingto come back and smell it in the house!
Foysol Ali (fozie10@homail.com) writes:
From my own perspective i believe that East is East is one of the best film made interms of elements that were used, it's completely hilarious and out of this world. All the characters were funny,specially George Khan good acting and verry funny when he speaks everytime.
bob (bob101@hotmail.com) writes:
i think its a great film and the charecters are played brilliantly
annet (Email address withheld) writes:
a great movie! I saw it at school...it's super!
We spoke about immigration and social classes in the England of the 2nd half of the 20th century... Before seeing this film, I hadnt't understood anything...our lessons were really boring... but the movie has been a fres wind and i really loved it...
Great!!!!! :-)
Luisa (Email address withheld) writes:
we watched the film at school so i thought beforehand that it had to be somewhat overserious... but it turned out not to be, on the contrary,when George presented Ella the new barber's chair we all burst out laughing and the rest of the film was also quite hilarious.
amy (amy@hotmail.co.uk) writes:
i really enjoyed the film east is east.we watched it in school.i think dis film is really gud 2 watch.the ones who hant seen it i suggest dem 2 watch it.its a really gud film for me.i am not statin a fact im jus statin my opinion wat i think abt dis movie.hope u lot enjoy da movie.east or west east is east is da best!
Zousha (Email address withheld) writes:
Yes, I agree.I also think that this film is great.We watched "East is East" at school,too.
I really have to say that the cultural "gap" and the problems in the family are showed in a very good way;especially the different characters (e.g. Nazir "gay",Tariq -Tony- "rebel",Abdul "religious")make the film interesting.I think the funniest scene is
when you get to see who should be Tony's and Abdul's brides because everbody could understand if George would say "no,thanks,my sons won't marry them"
BUT he says something like "yes,nice".
If you want to see a film which presents cultural problems in and out of
a Pakistani family in the 70ies and to understand their situation you have to watch it because this film is also funny.
It has the right "mix".
Asad Raza (asad_raza5367@hotmail.com) writes:
Hello!
Does anyone know where I can get a copy of the play "East is East"?
It was written by Ayub Khan-Din. His comedy, East is East at the Royal Court Theatre, was nominated for a 1998 Laurence Olivier Theatre Award for Best New Comedy of the 1997 season.
these were the plays run dates:
THEATRE DOWNSTAIRS (DUKE OF YORK'S)
EAST IS EAST
Written by Ayub Khan-Din
Directed by Kristine Landon-Smith
3/26/1997 -5/24/1997
THEATRE UPSTAIRS (AMBASSADORS THEATRE, West Street WC2)
EAST IS EAST
Written by Ayub Khan-Din
Directed by Christine Landon-Smith
11/25/1996 -12/7/1996
thanks!!!
Asad Raza
Email: asad_raza5367@hotmail.com
"When I come this country, I have no luggage, today what I got?"
Om Puri "East is East" 1999
sophie (Email address withheld) writes:
I watched east is east as a drama production and the film.Both were funny and fun to watch.My favourite character in east is east is twitch. This film is a must see, WATCH IT!
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