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East is East (film)
Encyclopedia
East Is East is a 1999 British black comedy/drama film, written by Ayub Khan-Din
and directed by Damien O'Donnell
. It is set in a British household of mixed-ethnicity, with a British Pakistani father and an English mother in Salford, Lancashire
, in 1971. George Khan (played by Om Puri
), the father, expects his family to follow his strict Pakistani
ways, but his children who were born and grew up in Britain increasingly see themselves as British and reject their father's rules on dress, food, religion, and living in general, leading to a rise in tensions and conflicts in the family.
East Is East is based on the play of the same name by Ayub Khan-Din, which opened at the Royal Court Theatre
in 1997.
woman with an Irish
-Catholic
background, for 25 years, and has seven children with her: Nazir, Abdul, Tariq, Saleem, Maneer, Meenah and Sajid. The couple runs a popular Fish and Chip shop. George also has a first wife in Pakistan
. The film starts with an arranged marriage of the eldest son to a Pakistan
i girl. The son, Nazir, finds himself unable to go through with the marriage. He runs out at the start of the ceremony in front of all the family and guests much to the chagrin of his father and distress of his mother. In retaliation, George disowns Nazir and tells anyone who asks about him that he is dead.
The next crisis to fall on George is the discovery that the youngest son Sajid was accidentally not circumcised
which is preferred in Islam
(and which comically sends the Muslim children in the mosque into a panic). Sajid is promptly taken to hospital to get circumcised. When Ella sees the pain her son has suffered from being circumcised we get the first insight into the conflict between her clear love of her husband and her inability to stand up to him. Left alone, the other children eat bacon
and sausages, which is forbidden by Islam since they contain pork. When Meenah sees that her parents are coming back with Sajid she warns the others and they try to hide the evidence. Ella comes into the kitchen and smells it and keeps George away just long enough for them to get rid of everything.
Meanwhile, marriage is still on George's mind, and he accepts an introduction to Mr Shah, who is looking for good Pakistani bridegrooms for his two ugly and overweight daughters, Nigget and Nushaaba. Despite having seen the daughters' photographs (and shown obvious but discreet disgust), George still promises Mr Shah that Abdul and Tariq will marry them. George tells Ella his plans, and she openly disagrees, reminding George of what happened to Nazir, but George takes no notice, again insisting that Nazir is dead and the children have no right whatsoever to disagree with him. Sajid accidentally overhears the conversation, and during a skirmish with Tariq, Saleem and Meenah, he blurts it out.
The arranged marriages infuriate Tariq, who is already in a relationship with a local English girl, Stella Moorhouse, kept secret from both George and Stella's racist grandfather. He destroys the clothes and watches that his father traditionally buys for all his sons' weddings, despite the others' attempts to stop him. When George later sees the desecrated items, he assaults Maneer, ironically the only one who follows George's strict rules, for refusing to tell him the culprit. Ella stands in between the two, greatly angering and confusing George, who expected her to instinctively agree with him like a "proper Muslim wife". She tells him that his pig ignorance has caused the alienation of his children, the reason that they are so much "trouble" to him. George, however, does not understand this clearly and only hears it as Ella calling him a pig, a terrible insult to a Muslim. His uncontrollable rage turns on her and he beats her badly. In response, the children attempt to flee to Nazir in Eccles
who, as it turns out, is gay, and living with a male partner. Nazir drives back to Manchester to confront George but leaves after his mother begs him to go as George will go mad. Nazir, desperate not to see his mother hurt, only leaves after she begs him saying that she can always come to him if she needs to. George briefly sees Nazir as he drives away, but appears remorseful rather than angry.
George sees his world around him collapsing and resorts to draconian measures. He is losing the control and respect of his family whom he is trying, with his best intentions, to bring up in an Islamic way, a tradition he sees as the only choice, where all are equal, a "special community" which he expects his children to continue. They see themselves as British
, not Pakistani and they get increasingly frustrated with their father's attempt to mould them in his image. Tariq tries speaking to his father reasonably, but George does not listen. Tariq finally agrees, but hints at divorcing his ugly wife as soon as possible.
Mr and Mrs Shah finally arrive with their unattractive daughters (on a comedic note, the daughters are both obese, Nushaaba has an abnormally huge overbite
and Nigget is simply ugly, and it is hinted that they speak very little English). Ella knows she has brought up her children well, but the snobby and rude Mrs Shah makes constant subtle attacks on Ella and her non-Islamic her way of life. The final straw occurs when Saleem accidentally drops his sculpture of a vagina
on Mrs Shah's lap. Mrs Shah directly insults Ella and her sons, calling them "half breeds". Ella does not take this abuse lightly and angrily ejects the Shahs and their "inbred monstrosities" from the house. George attacks Ella once again for this insult on his dignity and to his name but the children come to the defence of their mother and stop him. Now seeing that his tyrannical position has driven his family, even Maneer, away from him, George becomes a broken man, realising that his perceived best intentions have backfired dreadfully and he is no longer the man of the house. George quietly leaves the household and finds solace in the Fish and Chip shop.
Despite this, Ella still sees George as her husband, someone she will remain faithful and loyal to until the end. The film ends on George and Ella having a cup of tea together, a British form of reconciliation, Tariq attempting to reconcile with an upset Stella, and the children playing together in the street.
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In the UK, East Is East was remarkably successful for a low-budget comedy (£1.9 million budget), grossing some £10 million in the UK and more than $4.1 million in US cinemas, plus being a big hit across Europe. In addition, when the film was released on video and DVD, it made £12.3 million in UK rentals alone.
In the United States, the distributor, Miramax, obscured the presence of South Asian
characters in the marketing of the film: the poster features the face of a blonde woman, with the Asian characters appearing only in small windows.
In France, the film was called Fish and Chips - la comédie qui croustille ! (Fish and Chips - the crunchy comedy!).
.
The screenwriter, Ayub Khan-Din, won both a British Independent Film Award
and a London Critics Circle Film Award for his screenplay, as well as being nominated for two BAFTA Awards for Best Adapted Screenplay and the Carl Foreman Award for the Most Promising Newcomer, and for a European Film Award for Best Screenwriter.
The director, Damien O'Donnell
, won Best Debut at the UK Empire Awards
, won the Evening Standard British Film Awards
and Fantasporto
for Best Film, won the OCIC Special Award at the Buenos Aires International Festival of Independent Cinema
, won the Kingfisher Award at the Ljubljana International Film Festival
, and received a number of nominations, among them a British Independent Film Awards
nomination and a David di Donatello Awards nomination.
, premiered at film festivals in Toronto and London in the autumn of 2010, and was on general UK release from February 2011. A third film about the family is being planned.
Ayub Khan-Din
Ayub Khan-Din is a British Pakistani actor and playwright.As an actor, Khan-Din participated in some 20 British films and TV series in the late 1980s and the 1990s...
and directed by Damien O'Donnell
Damien O'Donnell
Damien O'Donnell is an Irish film director and writer.He has directed East is East , Heartlands and Inside I'm Dancing , amongst others....
. It is set in a British household of mixed-ethnicity, with a British Pakistani father and an English mother in Salford, Lancashire
Lancashire
Lancashire is a non-metropolitan county of historic origin in the North West of England. It takes its name from the city of Lancaster, and is sometimes known as the County of Lancaster. Although Lancaster is still considered to be the county town, Lancashire County Council is based in Preston...
, in 1971. George Khan (played by Om Puri
Om Puri
Om Puri is an Indian actor who has appeared in both mainstream Indian films and art films. His credits also include appearances in British and American films. He has received an honorary OBE.-Early life:...
), the father, expects his family to follow his strict Pakistani
Culture of Pakistan
The society and culture of Pakistan comprises numerous diverse cultures and ethnic groups: the Punjabis, Kashmiris, Sindhis in east, Muhajirs, Makrani in the south; Baloch and Pashtun in the west; and the ancient Dardic, Wakhi and Burusho communities in the north...
ways, but his children who were born and grew up in Britain increasingly see themselves as British and reject their father's rules on dress, food, religion, and living in general, leading to a rise in tensions and conflicts in the family.
East Is East is based on the play of the same name by Ayub Khan-Din, which opened at the Royal Court Theatre
Royal Court Theatre
The Royal Court Theatre is a non-commercial theatre on Sloane Square, in the Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea. It is noted for its contributions to modern theatre...
in 1997.
Plot
George Khan is a Pakistani immigrant who has lived in England since 1937 and has been married to Ella, a BritishBritish people
The British are citizens of the United Kingdom, of the Isle of Man, any of the Channel Islands, or of any of the British overseas territories, and their descendants...
woman with an Irish
Ireland
Ireland is an island to the northwest of continental Europe. It is the third-largest island in Europe and the twentieth-largest island on Earth...
-Catholic
Roman Catholic Church
The Catholic Church, also known as the Roman Catholic Church, is the world's largest Christian church, with over a billion members. Led by the Pope, it defines its mission as spreading the gospel of Jesus Christ, administering the sacraments and exercising charity...
background, for 25 years, and has seven children with her: Nazir, Abdul, Tariq, Saleem, Maneer, Meenah and Sajid. The couple runs a popular Fish and Chip shop. George also has a first wife in Pakistan
Pakistan
Pakistan , officially the Islamic Republic of Pakistan is a sovereign state in South Asia. It has a coastline along the Arabian Sea and the Gulf of Oman in the south and is bordered by Afghanistan and Iran in the west, India in the east and China in the far northeast. In the north, Tajikistan...
. The film starts with an arranged marriage of the eldest son to a Pakistan
Pakistan
Pakistan , officially the Islamic Republic of Pakistan is a sovereign state in South Asia. It has a coastline along the Arabian Sea and the Gulf of Oman in the south and is bordered by Afghanistan and Iran in the west, India in the east and China in the far northeast. In the north, Tajikistan...
i girl. The son, Nazir, finds himself unable to go through with the marriage. He runs out at the start of the ceremony in front of all the family and guests much to the chagrin of his father and distress of his mother. In retaliation, George disowns Nazir and tells anyone who asks about him that he is dead.
The next crisis to fall on George is the discovery that the youngest son Sajid was accidentally not circumcised
Circumcision
Male circumcision is the surgical removal of some or all of the foreskin from the penis. The word "circumcision" comes from Latin and ....
which is preferred in Islam
Islam
Islam . The most common are and . : Arabic pronunciation varies regionally. The first vowel ranges from ~~. The second vowel ranges from ~~~...
(and which comically sends the Muslim children in the mosque into a panic). Sajid is promptly taken to hospital to get circumcised. When Ella sees the pain her son has suffered from being circumcised we get the first insight into the conflict between her clear love of her husband and her inability to stand up to him. Left alone, the other children eat bacon
Bacon
Bacon is a cured meat prepared from a pig. It is first cured using large quantities of salt, either in a brine or in a dry packing; the result is fresh bacon . Fresh bacon may then be further dried for weeks or months in cold air, boiled, or smoked. Fresh and dried bacon must be cooked before eating...
and sausages, which is forbidden by Islam since they contain pork. When Meenah sees that her parents are coming back with Sajid she warns the others and they try to hide the evidence. Ella comes into the kitchen and smells it and keeps George away just long enough for them to get rid of everything.
Meanwhile, marriage is still on George's mind, and he accepts an introduction to Mr Shah, who is looking for good Pakistani bridegrooms for his two ugly and overweight daughters, Nigget and Nushaaba. Despite having seen the daughters' photographs (and shown obvious but discreet disgust), George still promises Mr Shah that Abdul and Tariq will marry them. George tells Ella his plans, and she openly disagrees, reminding George of what happened to Nazir, but George takes no notice, again insisting that Nazir is dead and the children have no right whatsoever to disagree with him. Sajid accidentally overhears the conversation, and during a skirmish with Tariq, Saleem and Meenah, he blurts it out.
The arranged marriages infuriate Tariq, who is already in a relationship with a local English girl, Stella Moorhouse, kept secret from both George and Stella's racist grandfather. He destroys the clothes and watches that his father traditionally buys for all his sons' weddings, despite the others' attempts to stop him. When George later sees the desecrated items, he assaults Maneer, ironically the only one who follows George's strict rules, for refusing to tell him the culprit. Ella stands in between the two, greatly angering and confusing George, who expected her to instinctively agree with him like a "proper Muslim wife". She tells him that his pig ignorance has caused the alienation of his children, the reason that they are so much "trouble" to him. George, however, does not understand this clearly and only hears it as Ella calling him a pig, a terrible insult to a Muslim. His uncontrollable rage turns on her and he beats her badly. In response, the children attempt to flee to Nazir in Eccles
Eccles, Greater Manchester
Eccles is a town in the City of Salford, a metropolitan borough of Greater Manchester in North West England, west of Salford and west of Manchester city centre...
who, as it turns out, is gay, and living with a male partner. Nazir drives back to Manchester to confront George but leaves after his mother begs him to go as George will go mad. Nazir, desperate not to see his mother hurt, only leaves after she begs him saying that she can always come to him if she needs to. George briefly sees Nazir as he drives away, but appears remorseful rather than angry.
George sees his world around him collapsing and resorts to draconian measures. He is losing the control and respect of his family whom he is trying, with his best intentions, to bring up in an Islamic way, a tradition he sees as the only choice, where all are equal, a "special community" which he expects his children to continue. They see themselves as British
British people
The British are citizens of the United Kingdom, of the Isle of Man, any of the Channel Islands, or of any of the British overseas territories, and their descendants...
, not Pakistani and they get increasingly frustrated with their father's attempt to mould them in his image. Tariq tries speaking to his father reasonably, but George does not listen. Tariq finally agrees, but hints at divorcing his ugly wife as soon as possible.
Mr and Mrs Shah finally arrive with their unattractive daughters (on a comedic note, the daughters are both obese, Nushaaba has an abnormally huge overbite
Overbite
Overbite refers to the extent of vertical overlap of the maxillary central incisors over the mandibular central incisors.Overbite may also refer to:* Overbite , an extension for the Mozilla Firefox web browser....
and Nigget is simply ugly, and it is hinted that they speak very little English). Ella knows she has brought up her children well, but the snobby and rude Mrs Shah makes constant subtle attacks on Ella and her non-Islamic her way of life. The final straw occurs when Saleem accidentally drops his sculpture of a vagina
Vagina
The vagina is a fibromuscular tubular tract leading from the uterus to the exterior of the body in female placental mammals and marsupials, or to the cloaca in female birds, monotremes, and some reptiles. Female insects and other invertebrates also have a vagina, which is the terminal part of the...
on Mrs Shah's lap. Mrs Shah directly insults Ella and her sons, calling them "half breeds". Ella does not take this abuse lightly and angrily ejects the Shahs and their "inbred monstrosities" from the house. George attacks Ella once again for this insult on his dignity and to his name but the children come to the defence of their mother and stop him. Now seeing that his tyrannical position has driven his family, even Maneer, away from him, George becomes a broken man, realising that his perceived best intentions have backfired dreadfully and he is no longer the man of the house. George quietly leaves the household and finds solace in the Fish and Chip shop.
Despite this, Ella still sees George as her husband, someone she will remain faithful and loyal to until the end. The film ends on George and Ella having a cup of tea together, a British form of reconciliation, Tariq attempting to reconcile with an upset Stella, and the children playing together in the street.
Cast
- Om PuriOm PuriOm Puri is an Indian actor who has appeared in both mainstream Indian films and art films. His credits also include appearances in British and American films. He has received an honorary OBE.-Early life:...
- Zahir "George" Khan, the patriarch of the Khan family. Although he loves his family, he cares more for his own image and dignity than their happiness. - Linda BassettLinda BassettLinda Bassett is an English actress, who is well known in the United Kingdom for her film career.Bassett was born in Kent, England to a typist mother and a police officer father. Her roles include the award-winning part of Ella Khan in the 1999 British comedy film East is East...
- Ella Khan, George's wife. An Irish-Catholic, she finds herself unable to stand up to George until he pushes her too far by abusing their children. - Ian AspinallIan AspinallIan Aspinall is a British actor who is well known for his role on Holby City where he played Mubbs Hussein from 2001 to 2005. He has been in City Central, The Bill, Silent Witness, Peak Practice, and Casualty. He also had a role in East is East playing eldest son Nazir Khan...
- Nazir "Nigel" Khan, the eldest son. Following an unsuccessful arranged marriage and due to his homosexuality, he is disowned by George. - Raji JamesRaji JamesRajesh Jhanji better known by his stage name Little Raji James That Used To Be In Eastenders But Ruined It, is a British Indian actor, club night promotor and podcast co-host, best known for his role as Ash Ferreira in EastEnders, he also played Abdul Khan in the 1999 British Film East Is East...
- Abdul "Arthur" Khan, the second son. He seems to dislike conflict and does not rebel against George's authority until he abuses Ella. - Jimi MistryJimi Mistry-Early life:Mistry, was born in Scarborough, Yorkshire, England to an Indian Hindu father and an Irish Roman Catholic mother. He was brought up a Roman Catholic and attended St. James' Catholic High in Cheadle Hulme before his family moved to Cardiff where he attended Radyr Comprehensive School...
- Tariq "Tony" Khan, the third son. He is the most rebellious of the children and even attempts to flee to Eccles when he learns of George's marriage plans for him. - Emil MarwaEmil MarwaEmil Marwa, born in 1974, is a Norwegian actor, known for his acting in films like Izzat, East Is East, and The Guru. -Awards:-Selected filmography:-External links:...
- Maneer "Gandhi" Khan, the fourth son. He is the only one who obeys George's rules and follows Islam, and ironically the only one who George beats. - Chris BissonChris BissonChristopher Paul "Chris" Bisson is a British actor.-Career:Born in Wythenshawe, Manchester, Chris Bisson first appeared on television as J.J. in Children's Ward in 1990...
- Saleem "Picasso" Khan, the fifth son. He seems indifferent to George's authority but stands by his mother and siblings when George goes too far. - Archie Panjabi - Meenah Khan, the sixth child and the only daughter. She also has a rebellious streak and frequently teases Sajid.
- Jordan RoutledgeJordan RoutledgeJordan Routledge is the actor who plays Sajid in the hit film East Is East . Sajid is known for wearing a hoody parka and not taking it off. He is the youngest brother of all the 'East Is East' children...
- Sajid "Spaz" Khan, the sixth son and youngest child. The pain he undergoes following his late circumcision is what prompts Ella to rethink her attitude towards George. - Emma Rydal - Stella Moorhouse, Tariq's secret girlfriend. Their relationship becomes somewhat strained once she finds out George has planned to marry Tariq off.
- John BardonJohn BardonJohn Bardon, is an English stage and screen actor. He was awarded the Laurence Olivier Award in 1988 as 'Best Actor in a Musical' for Kiss Me, Kate, sharing the award with co-star Emil Wolk.-Acting career:Bardon is best known for playing Jim Branning in the popular British soap opera EastEnders...
- Mr. Moorhouse, Stella and Earnest's grandfather. He has old-fashioned (perhaps bigoted) ideas about race and ethnicity, supporting controversial political figures like Enoch PowellEnoch PowellJohn Enoch Powell, MBE was a British politician, classical scholar, poet, writer, and soldier. He served as a Conservative Party MP and Minister of Health . He attained most prominence in 1968, when he made the controversial Rivers of Blood speech in opposition to mass immigration from...
, and does not know of Stella's relationship with Tariq, although he is frequently irritated by Earnest's friendship with the Khans, who openly dislike him. - Gary Damer - Earnest "Pongo" Moorhouse, Stella's younger brother. Like Stella, he is friends with the Khans, being Sajid's best friend and harbouring an unrequited crush on Meenah. It is implied that he is somewhat weird and often abused by his grandfather.
- Ruth JonesRuth JonesRuth Jones is a Welsh TV actress and writer. She starred in and co-wrote the multi-award winning TV comedy Gavin & Stacey and has appeared in many other successful comedies over recent years...
- Peggy, Stella's best friend. She appears jealous of Stella's relationship with Tariq and tries desperately to find a boyfriend, but her overweight figure puts other boys off. In the end, she is implied to have a romantic fling with Saleem. - Madhav SharmaMadhav SharmaMadhav Sharma is an Indian born British actor and theatre director. He was educated at the St. Joseph's College, Bangalore, the Scottish Church College, Calcutta, and Fergusson College, Poona, before winning a merit scholarship to the Royal Academy of Dramatic Art, London.-Early life:He was born...
- Mr Shah, a devout Muslim desperately seeking Pakistani bridegrooms for his two comically unattractive daughters. Though he appears amiable on the outside, he is actually rather mean-spirited and rude, shown when he scoffs Earnest Moorhouse for no reason and brands Ella as a disgrace solely for speaking back to his snobbish wife even when she insulted Ella first. - Lesley Nicol - Auntie Annie, Ella's sister. She frequently helps George and Ella at the Chip shop and has an amiable relationship with George, although she advises Ella not to be too soft with him.
International exhibition and responses
In the United States, the distributor, Miramax, obscured the presence of South Asian
British Asian
British Asian is a term used to describe British citizens who descended from mainly South Asia, also known as South Asians in the United Kingdom...
characters in the marketing of the film: the poster features the face of a blonde woman, with the Asian characters appearing only in small windows.
In France, the film was called Fish and Chips - la comédie qui croustille ! (Fish and Chips - the crunchy comedy!).
Awards and nominations
The film won the Alexander Korda Award for Best British Film at the BAFTA Awards, and was declared Best Comedy Film at the British Comedy AwardsBritish Comedy Awards
The British Comedy Awards is an annual awards ceremony in the United Kingdom celebrating notable comedians and entertainment performances of the previous year.-History:...
.
The screenwriter, Ayub Khan-Din, won both a British Independent Film Award
British Independent Film Awards
The Moët British Independent Film Awards is an annual award ceremony celebrating achievement in independently funded British film and cinema. Nominations and jury are announced at the beginning of November with the award ceremony taking place in late November or early December.-History:The British...
and a London Critics Circle Film Award for his screenplay, as well as being nominated for two BAFTA Awards for Best Adapted Screenplay and the Carl Foreman Award for the Most Promising Newcomer, and for a European Film Award for Best Screenwriter.
The director, Damien O'Donnell
Damien O'Donnell
Damien O'Donnell is an Irish film director and writer.He has directed East is East , Heartlands and Inside I'm Dancing , amongst others....
, won Best Debut at the UK Empire Awards
Empire Awards
An Empire Award is an accolade bestowed by Empire, Britain's biggest selling film magazine, to recognize excellence of professionals in the locale and global film industry. The awards are voted for by readers of the magazine and in an annual ceremony, the Empire Awards, the winners are presented...
, won the Evening Standard British Film Awards
Evening Standard British Film Awards
The Evening Standard British Film Awards were established in 1973 by the British London area evening newspaper Evening Standard. The Standard Awards is the only ceremony "dedicated to British and Irish talent," judged by a panel of "top UK critics." Each ceremony honours films from the previous...
and Fantasporto
Fantasporto
Fantasporto, also known as Fantas, is an international film festival, annually organized since 1981 in Porto, Portugal. Giving screen space to commercial feature films, auteur films and experimental projects from all over the world, Fantasporto has created enthusiastic audiences, ranging from...
for Best Film, won the OCIC Special Award at the Buenos Aires International Festival of Independent Cinema
Buenos Aires International Festival of Independent Cinema
The Buenos Aires Festival Internacional de Cine Independiente is an international festival of independent films organized each year in the month of April, in the city of Buenos Aires, Argentina.The festival is managed by the Ministerio de Cultura del Gobierno de la Ciudad de Buenos Aires, it is not...
, won the Kingfisher Award at the Ljubljana International Film Festival
Ljubljana International Film Festival
The Ljubljana International Film Festival is an international film festival established in 1990 and held annually in Ljubljana, Slovenia....
, and received a number of nominations, among them a British Independent Film Awards
British Independent Film Awards
The Moët British Independent Film Awards is an annual award ceremony celebrating achievement in independently funded British film and cinema. Nominations and jury are announced at the beginning of November with the award ceremony taking place in late November or early December.-History:The British...
nomination and a David di Donatello Awards nomination.
Sequel
A sequel, West Is WestWest Is West (2010 film)
West Is West is a 2011 British comedy-drama film, which is a sequel to the 1999 comedy East Is East. It stars Aqib Khan, Om Puri, Linda Bassett, Ila Arun and Jimi Mistry, is written by Ayub Khan-Din, directed by Andy DeEmmony, and produced by Leslee Udwin for Assassin Films and BBC Films.The film...
, premiered at film festivals in Toronto and London in the autumn of 2010, and was on general UK release from February 2011. A third film about the family is being planned.