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"How
the 'East' was Won"
by Scott Mantz
"East is East"
Om Puri, Linda Bassett
Directed by Damien O'Donnell
When you find
yourself in a new environment, the pressure to conform to your new
surroundings while still maintaining your heritage can put tremendous
pressure on your family. There's nothing wrong with being proud
of who you are, but what's the point of moving to another culture
if you aren't going to embrace it? There's a difference between
sticking to your roots and becoming trapped by them, and in the
sharp, funny, and dramatic "East is East," Om Puri realizes the
hard way, that when it comes to family ties, if you can't beat 'em,
join 'em.
The Khans--Pakistan-born
father George (Om Puri), his British wife Ella (Linda Bassett),
and their seven kids--are barely getting by with their fish and
chips shop in early 1970's Manchester, England. Life with father
sure isn't easy. The kids--including hippie-wannabe Tariq (Jimi
Mistry), frustrated artist Saleem (Chris Bisson), budding beauty
Meenah (Archie Panjabi), and reclusive tyke Sajid (Jordan Routledge)--are
faced with the constant struggle of living by their father's Pakistani
rules in their mother's British environment. Oldest son Nazir (Ian
Aspinall) is banished from the family when he flees from a ritualistic
wedding, and it's all downhill from there. When George goes ahead
with the planned marriage of his next two sons, they have to decide
whether to go through with the wedding or establish their own identities
and face the wrath of Khan.
In adapting
his stage play for the screen, writer Ayub Khan-Din portrays George
Khan as a man so stubborn that he can't see the forest through the
trees. He's hard-working and conservative, and he is so dedicated
to doing what's best for his family that he doesn't realize he's
tearing them apart. He fails to see the irony in the whole situation.
Here he is, loyal to his Pakistani heritage, but he runs a very
British business (you can't get more British than fish and chips).
He wants his sons to marry Pakistani women, but he is married to
a very British wife. George seeks to protect his family by connecting
with a much wealthier Pakistani family, but he doesn't realize that
by doing this, he's sacrificing the values that he's fought so hard
to maintain.
In some ways,
"East is East" bears a striking resemblance to "Angela's Ashes"
and "Slums of Beverly Hills." Like "Ashes," the Khans are able to
maintain their optimism and sense of humor despite being crammed
in such a small living environment. Unlike "Ashes," which was so
brutal in its depiction of working class life that it simply became
depressing, "East" has enough sharp humor, charm, and downright
funny moments that you can't help but be won over by this family.
Like "Slums," the Khan siblings must swallow their pride in order
to attach themselves to a wealthy family, although they ultimately
realize that no amount of money or security can replace the strong
bond that they already have.
Om Puri puts
in a strong performance as the strict father, but he overdoes it
with the brutality. The compassion you initially feel for him dissipates
when he becomes so abusive to his family, and his character is clearly
out of touch with the humorous mood of the rest of the film. Linda
Bassett is just as passionate as Puri's British wife, who is torn
between supporting her strict husband's conservative views or her
kids' liberal spirit. Jimi Mistry is the strongest of all the siblings,
providing the backbone of the conflicting cultures as the free-minded
Don Juan who's more interested in rock'n'roll and chasing girls
than studying Muslim and sweeping the store.
"East is East"
doesn't resolve itself with a Hollywood "everything's gonna be alright"
ending, but therein lies its charm. After 25 years of conservatism,
you can't expect George Khan to just change his views overnight,
but at least he has taken the first step. He's opened his eyes to
his wife, his store, and his kids. It took the threat of losing
it all for him to come to the conclusion that his kids have grown
up to be just like him. If he had specialized in fruits and vegetables
instead of fish and chips, then maybe he would have realized all
along that the apple doesn't fall far from the tree.
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