East is East (R) No Rating
Told through the eyes of a sensitive 12-year-old, "East is East" is based on Ayub Khan-Din's hit autobiographical play about the Khan clan -- a tyrannical Pakistani dad trying to uphold Muslim tradition, his long-suffering English wife and their seven captive children.
Story
Lavished with rich period detail (it's set in 1971 Salford, England) and hilarious anecdotes, the film revolves around the plans by George (the father) to marry off his sons to good Pakistani girls. The movie opens with his handsome eldest son bolting from the altar to live a secular (and decidedly fashionable) life, even though it means being severed from his kin. It all unfolds with great energy that never lets up, even at the cathartic hour of reckoning between tribe and elder.
Acting
George's irascibility is brilliantly telegraphed in Om Puri's remarkable, craggy face (last seen in Hanif Kureishi's "My Son the Fanatic"). Linda Bassett as his
common-sense wife, Ella, captures the inner struggle between a loving, dutiful (and abused) spouse, and a mother protective of her children's happiness. The ensemble playing their fractious brood -- six sons and one sassy daughter -- is a joy to watch.
Direction
Much of the tale's brisk charm lies in its frenetic intergenerational conflict, which Damien O'Donnell brilliantly navigates. O'Donnell milks each scene for every possible grain of comedic friction.
Bottom Line
Eastern in quality, Western in flavor and definitely worth traveling to see.
To get the full Quicklook Films experience, uncheck "Enable on this Site" from Adblock Plus
box office top 10
The Fall Guy Released: May 3, 2024 Cast: Ryan Gosling, Emily Blunt 28.5M
Star Wars Episode 1 The Phantom Menace 25th Anniversary Released: May 3, 2024 Cast: Ewan McGregor, Liam Neeson 8.1M
Challengers Released: April 26, 2024 Cast: Zendaya, Josh O'Connor 7.6M
Tarot Released: May 3, 2024 Cast: Harriet Slater, Adain Bradley 6.5M
Godzilla x Kong: The New Empire Released: March 29, 2024 Cast: Rebecca Hall, Brian Tyree Henry 4.5M
Civil War Released: April 12, 2024 Cast: Kirsten Dunst, Wagner Moura 3.6M
Unsung Hero Released: April 26, 2024 Cast: Daisy Betts, Joel Smallbone 3M
Kung Fu Panda 4 Released: March 8, 2024 Cast: Jack Black, Awkwafina 2.4M
Abigail Released: April 19, 2024 Cast: Melissa Barrera, Dan Stevens 2.3M
Ghostbusters: Frozen Empire Released: March 22, 2024 Cast: Paul Rudd, Carrie Coon 1.8M