East is East

Released 1999
Stars Om Puri, Linda Bassett, Jimi Mistry, Raji James, Archie Panjabi, Jordan Routledge, Emil Marwa, Chris Bisson, Ian Aspinall
Directed by Damien O'Donnell

East Is East stars the great Om Puri in another riveting performance. Here, he plays George Khan, a Pakistani immigrant to Salford, Manchester. The year is 1971 and, back in his native country, a war is raging with India. Thousands of miles away, George is trying to instill Pakistani traditions in his six sons and one daughter - a task made difficult by their immersion in English culture and by the fact that their mother (George's second wife), Ella, is British. In fact, even though he won't admit it (or perhaps he doesn't realize it), George is a hypocrite. 25 years ago, he left Pakistan to come to England to make his fortune. Instead of bringing his first wife with him, he left her behind and married Ella. But, despite his own poor example, George is determined to make his children into good Pakistanis, even if it's physically painful. 

Summary written by James Berardinelli