East Is East 2000

Jahangir “George” Khan, portrayed by Om Puri, is a Pakistani Muslim who has made England his home since 1937. Despite his love for his family, George prioritizes his own image and dignity over their happiness. He is married to a woman in Pakistan but has also been with his second wife, Ella, a British Roman Catholic of Irish descent, for 25 years. Together, they share a bustling life, running a beloved fish and chips shop and raising seven children: Nazir, Abdul, Tariq, Maneer, Saleem, Meenah, and Sajid.

As George fixates on the 1971 conflict between East and West Pakistan, he becomes increasingly obsessed with arranging marriages for his children. However, his children, having been raised in Britain, begin to identify more with their British identity, distancing themselves from Pakistani traditions concerning food, dress, and religion. This cultural conflict ignites tensions within their family.

Ella tries to navigate her life quietly, with Auntie Annie often stepping in to help at the chip shop. She advises Ella to stand firm against George, who tends to push boundaries, particularly when it involves his children. Their second son, Abdul, is mostly passive but breaks his silence when he witnesses George’s mistreatment of Ella. Conversely, the third son, Tariq, rebels against George’s arranged marriage plans, even attempting to escape when faced with the prospect of losing his freedom.

Their tumultuous family dynamics also involve Nazir, who is disowned by George for exiting an arranged marriage in favor of a homosexual relationship. Meanwhile, youngest son Sajid struggles through the painful process of circumcision that ultimately becomes a turning point for Ella as she reassesses her position in the family.

The arrival of Mr. Shah introduces further conflict, as he insists on marrying off his unattractive daughters to George’s sons. George’s overbearing nature leads him to make unreasonable promises, and when the truth of his plans is revealed, it results in chaos within the household. Tariq’s subsequent outrage leads to destruction and confrontation, drawing in not only Ella but also their children, who begin to see the cracks in their father’s authority.

As the family rallies against George, they face the climactic moment when Ella decides enough is enough, asserting that the prospective brides are simply not suitable for her family. The tension crescendos when George, faced by the unified front of his family, finds himself challenged in a way he has never experienced before. Ultimately, this stands as a testament to the shifting dynamics in a family grappling with cultural expectations and the quest for individuality.