Film Summary: East Is East by Damien O’Donnell

 

East is East (1999) Film by Damien O'Donnell

The film ‘East is East’ is an adaptation of the autobiographical play written by Ayub-Khan-Din. Directed by Damien O’Donnell, the film focuses on the central theme of cultural clash that contains sub-themes of racism, multiculturalism, identity crisis, diversity, hybridity, belonging and Englishness. All these implications lied in the mixed marriage of George Khan and Ella who had settled in Salford, England with their seven children in the 1970s. The historical background allows the viewers to explore the themes freely and therefore, justifies the trials of the Khan family and the issue of racism which is quite sensitive during this age.

The opening scene of the film roundly captures the theme of the film; a Catholic ritual where George Khan and Ella’s children actively and jocundly participate in the parade in the streets of their neighbourhood. While Maneer is carrying the Virgin effigy with his brothers, Meenah bears the crucifix and Sajid, the youngest, strews rose petals. One interesting observation is how the children have inherited the splitting physical attributes of their Pakistani roots but participate in the Catholic ritual.

The theme of a generational gap between George Khan results in the constant conflicts that arise in the household. The certain expectation imposed by George on his children to stick to their Islamic culture and his secret quest to find Pakistani suitors for his older sons all add up to the cultural clash. George forces his sons to go to the mosque and learn Urdu which the children does not pay much weight to, however, shows interest in clubbing like Tariq’s passion for night-clubs and the several scenes showing him going out with Stella, an English neighbour, and drinking alcohol which is not tolerated for Muslims.

Another instance is Nazir, the eldest, eluding from George Khan’s tyrannical treatment and repudiates the Pakistani tradition of an arranged marriage by declining to marry the girl his father had chosen for him and jilting the family to start a new life in Eccles with his homosexual partner.

Saleem, pretends to study engineering, but instead attends an art school. Meenah’s character deviates from the stereotypical Pakistani girl and is depicted playing football with boys in the neighbourhood.

Abdul however, goes along with his father’s wishes only to keep peace and prevent George’s violent explosions but shows his intolerance towards domestic violence against Ella by George. Sajid always keeps his parka hood as a way of protecting himself from the happenings of domestic violence. It is only Maneer who keeps Muslim traditional customs such as praying five times daily and reading the Koran.

All these highlights the Englishness the children had cultivated and they vehemently assert their English identity throughout the film which does not sit well with George.

In redefining the cultural hybridity, the names of characters like Zahir George Khan, Nazir Nigel Khan, Abdul Arthur Khan etc, their crass speech and usage of slang words are all images of how they have adapted to the English culture. Bradistan is also a product of cultural hybridity which in reality is Bradford; home to a large population of immigrant Pakistanis.

Where there is inter-mixing of culture, racism persistently exists and “East is East” is no exception because the Khan family constantly faces racism from both the communities they are affiliated to. The sense of not belonging to either is severely faced by the children as well. George had already gone beyond his culture by marrying Ella, a Catholic. Therefore, his community is somehow indifferent towards him.

The English neighbours like Mr Moorhouse condescendingly refer to them as “Pakis”. George is no better than any of them because he shows indifference towards the doctor who circumcised Sajid as he is assumed to be an Indian; George being a patriotic Pakistani treats him coarsely.

The comedy-drama is highlighted in the rebellious attitudes of the children. What seems like a natural phenomenon pertains to a greater issue and that is their inability to accept the traditional Islamic culture because they have been born and brought up in the English society and have been highly influenced by their school, friends, neighbours and their English mother, a Catholic.

Sajid’s forceful circumcision, Meenah and her brothers eating bacon and trying to hide it from their father do bring laughs, but it serves the purpose of bringing the issue in the picture. Even though they are referred to as “Pakis” by their neighbours, they do not consider themselves to be Pakistani.

On the contrary, they speak scornfully about others being “Pakis”. For instance, Tariq declares: “I’m not going to marry a fucking Paki” after Meenah, Tariq, and Saleem find the clothing and gifts for Abdul and Tariq’s arranged weddings in their father’s trunk. Likewise, Sajid cries out “The Pakis are here” when the visitors from Bradford come to their house.

The irony lies in George Khan’s name itself. It is a blend of a Catholic name while still keeping his Islam identity_ Khan. While he restricts his sons to get married to White women because of various reasons, the paradox is his marriage with Ella. Although, he does not state concrete reasons as to why maybe George ultimately did not want their children to face the same tribulations he had faced or the sense of not belonging to either by the future generations.

The comedy in the film is a double-edged sword: on one end, it is a sheer portrayal of how a mixed-cultured family receives severe backlash from their communities. It also mocks the Islamic culture and the stringency that comes with it. Its stereotypical nature projects a negative impression on the audience towards Islam or Pakistanis. One instance is the comically ugly appearance of the Pakistani women whom George had chosen for Tariq and Abdul. This has been criticised on the proposition that identity is based on the culture rather than one’s appearance.