East is East
Starring Om Puri, Linda Bassett, Jordan Routledge, Archie Panjabi, Emil Marwa, Chris Bisson, Jimi Mistry
Directed by Damien O'Donnell
Written by Ayub Khan-Din, from his play
Score by Deborah Mollison
Aspect ratio: 1.85:1, enhanced for 16:9
Sound: AC-3
Studio: Assassin, BBC, Channel Four Films, 1999 (movie), Disney, 2000 (DVD): 96 minutes
In the 1930s George Khan had immigrated to Manchester from what was then British India. In 1946 he had married an English wife, Ella, with whom he has lived for 25 more or less contented years. It is now 1971, time for his sons to start getting married.
In spite of his own marriage to Ella, the type of marriage George has in mind for his sons is an arranged marriage to daughters of respectable Pakistani families. But this isn't what his sons have in mind at all.
This sounds like a comedy, and in fact the film's publicity presents it as such. But IT ISN'T A COMEDY. It even has a touch of domestic violence. Instead, it is a fine drama about a family caught between two cultures, which certainly provides a window into aspects of modern England. And, yes, it does have some moments of high comedy.
The screenplay is excellent, and does not betray the film's origin as a stage play. Om Puri and Linda Bassett lead a first-rate cast. The direction and cinematography are unobtrusive and excellent.
So the film is easy to recommend as an original and engrossing drama.
Special features of the DVD
Trailer only
DVD picture
Very good, as is usual for Disney.
DVD sound
Good.
Internet Movie Database links