Yasmin (2004)

A young Muslim woman living in Britain campaigns for the release of her immigrant husband from his detainment in a holding centre.

Director:

Kenneth Glenaan

Writer:

Simon Beaufoy

Stars:

Archie Panjabi, Renu Setna, Steve Jackson

6 wins & 2 nominations.

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Archie Panjabi	...	Yasmin Husseini
Renu Setna	...	Khalid
Steve Jackson	...	John
Syed Ahmed	...	Nasir
Shahid Ahmed	...	Faysal Husseini
Badi Uzzaman	...	Hassan
Amar Hussain	...	Kamal
Joanna Booth	...	Cheryl
Emma Ashton	...	Sam
Rae Kelly Hill	...	Wendy (as Rae Kelly)
Tammy Barker	...	Anna
Suraj Dass	...	Kashiff
Miriam Ali	...	Amina
Mary Wray	...	Mary
Joyce Kennedy	...	Bobby

Storyline

In England, the Pakistanis Yasmin lives two lives in two different worlds: in her community, she wears Muslin clothes, cooks for her father and brother, and behaves as a traditional Muslin woman. Further, she has a unconsummated marriage with the illegal immigrant Faysal to facilitate the British stamp in his passport, after which she will divorce him. In her job, she changes her clothes and dresses like a Westerner, is considered a standard employee, and has a good friend, a Caucasian, who likes her. After September 11, the prejudice in her job and the treatment of common people make her take sides and change her life.

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Plot Keywords:

immigrant | muslim | forename as title | one word title | family relationships | 

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Genres:

Drama

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Details

Country:

Germany UK

Language:

English Punjabi

Release Date:

26 May 2005 (Germany)

Also Known As:

Yasmin - Uma Mulher, Duas Vidas

Filming Locations:

Keighley, West Yorkshire, England, UK

Company Credits

Production Co:

Parallax Independent,EuroArts Medien AG

Technical Specs

Sound Mix:

Dolby Digital

Color:

Color

Did You Know?

Trivia

In the scene where Yasmin chases off a group of boys who are throwing milk at a Muslim woman, an old lady comes up and apologizes for their behavior. This moment was completely unscripted - the crew were filming on a real street and the old lady was just a passer-by who hadn't noticed the cameras.

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Goofs

At the beginning, when Yasmin is putting on her jeans, her belt is done up in the long shot, but is undone when the view immediately changes to a medium shot.

User Reviews

Whatever your interest in the subject, this is a very watchable film

I caught this movie on TV and didn't think it would necessarily appeal to me, but from the very first I was caught up in it and had to watch right to the end. I thought the acting performances were very honest, while the script was true-to-life. I felt as if I was entering Yasmin's world every time she went home.

I particularly liked the friendship she had with John, which played out realistically.

At no point were the events clichéd, and the drama-documentary feel of the film was very effective. There were lots of well-observed details which lent to the authenticity of the film, and nice juxtapositions of the Muslim community living in a northern English town.

I found it compelling and moving.