Movie Description
Set in the early 1970s, EAST IS EAST, directed by Damien O'Donnell, follows the lives of a Pakistani-English family living in Northern England. George Khan (Om Puri), a proud Pakistani immigrant, and his British wife, Ella (Linda Bassett), run a fish and chip shop, while raising their seven children. George is determined to honor Pakistani tradition by arranging marriages for each of the children, whether they like it or not. When the Khan kids, including the nightclubbing Tariq (Jimi Mistry), the artsy Saleem (Chris Bisson), and the shy, parka-wearing Sajid (Jordan Routledge), begin to rebel against their forceful father, their mother also joins the household mutiny. During an awkward nuptial arrangement meeting with the snobby Shahs and their two unappealing daughters, the family's conflict hits its peak with surprising results.
With his first feature film, O'Donnell convincingly recreates the 1970s setting and carefully avoids glossing over the Khan family's difficulties. Puri and Bassett are excellent as the well-meaning parents, while Routledge is particularly charming as the reclusive youngest son. A quirky comedy that doesn't shy away from tense drama, EAST IS EAST is a truly unique film.
| Credits | | Producer: | Leslee Udwin | | Cast: | Emil Marwa, Emma Rydal, John Bardon, Linda Bassett, Raji James |
| Details | | Sound: | Stereo Sound |
Notes
DVD Features:
Region 1
Keep Case
Letterboxed - Anamorphic 1.85
Single Side - Single Layer
Audio:
Dolby Digital 5.1- English
Additional Release Material:
Trailer - 1.Original Theatrical Trailer
Interactive Features:
Scene Access
Interactive Menus, EAST IS EAST is based on a play of the same name by Ayub Khan Din.
Desson Howe of the Washington Post named EAST IS EAST one of the 10 best films of 2000.
Editorial Reviews
"...A provocative look at one of London's thriving subcultures....The details here are fresh and funny, and all of the acting is expert."
Movieline - p.37 - Stephen Farber (05/01/2000)
"...EAST IS EAST is unashamedly entertaining....Approaching its sensitive subject with a good-natured gusto that's hard to resist..."
Sight and Sound - p.36-43 - Liese Spencer (11/01/1999)
"...A sprightly acted, warm and often extremely funny ensemble comedy..."
Variety - p.29-30 - Derek Elley (05/31/1999)
"...[An] agreeable, incisively humorous study of race-relations in modern Britain..."
Film Comment - p.74 - Graham Fuller (05/01/2000)
"...Nuanced performances....Puri fleshes out the part with a considerable amount of warmth and emotion..." -- 4 out of 5 stars
Box Office - Lael Loewenstein (07/01/1999)
"...Khan-Din and director Damien O'Donnell do a masterful job in making this stage adaptation seem completely cinematic..."
Los Angeles Times - Kevin Thomas (04/14/2000)
"...This is a robust comedy..."
USA Today - Mike Clark (09/15/2000)
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