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

The Dual Life of Yasmin

I initially thought 'Yasmin' was going to be just another preachy 9/11 aftermath flick but I was pleasantly surprised. It tells the story of a young Muslim British who leads a double life. There is a Yasmin who wears a burka when she's out in her neighbourhood, who cooks for her father and brother and who is only legally married to a potential immigrant. Then there's a Yasmin who wears modern Western clothes, hangs out at the pub with a colleague she fancies and doesn't mind an occasional drink. She knows that her family and neighbours won't accept this side of her and she knows that her colleagues won't accept the Muslim side of her. However, after 9/11 Yasmin is forced with an identity crisis and it is here that she discovers her strength and the beauty of who she really is. 'Yasmin' never goes over the top which in a way is its strength but also its weakness.

The execution, for one, is too simplistic. The cinematography, the lack of score, the washed out colour look, the sound design, doesn't occasionally feels too dull. There are also some cultural clichés that 'Yasmin' seems to not have been able to escape.

Archie Punjabi is marvelous in the title role. It's a tour du force performance which she plays very subtly unlike the hyped Hollywood performances that beg for an Oscar. The rest of the cast do a decent job, especially the actor playing her husband.

'Yasmin' attempts to tell a different side of the aftermath of the 9/11. Even though it's not shown for more than a few minutes it's still an intriguing perspective and an important story.