WEST IS WEST, directed by ANDY DE EMMONY continues on from the 1999 hit film East is East (which was set in 1971).
It is now 1976, in Salford, Manchester, England, and remaining members of the Khan family soldier on through their in-house, on-going struggle of the elder family members tradition Pakistani values and beliefs vs. the youngsters who were born in Britain and have an avid acceptance into the British culture
In the midst of this turmoil is the story of Sajid the youngest of the children who is now a teenager and is enduring some serious bullying at school
Many of the original cast from East is East make a welcome return including OM PURI as George Khan, LINDA BASSETT as Ella, JIMI MISTRY, as Tariq, LESLEY NICOL as Auntie Annie, and EMIL MARWA as Maneer and the film introduces a new face to the ongoing Khan family story AQIB KHAN as Sajid Khan.
George Khan is still very much acting as the family dictator – enforcing his beliefs upon his family – much to their disdain
it is especially bad for Sajid and events soon come to a head, and George believes it would benefit him to take a trip to Pakistan to instill some much needed cultural discipline
in fact most of the film is set in rural Pakistan
Sajid, as expected, is uncomfortable and feels very much out of place in Pakistan
and has much difficulty in fitting in
the surprise however comes in the dramatic change that comes over George when he sees Mrs Khan No 1 (played very convincingly by ILA ARUN) and family in the Punjab, these are the wife and daughters he had abandoned 30 years earlier when he left to go to England. We soon discover that it is actually George who is most changed by the visit.
Pretty soon, George decides to make up for some of his many, many shortcomings and decides to build a house and re-work the land
Sajid finally starts to bond with some friends
The pace of the film slows a little at this point
but only for a short while that is, until the ominous arrival from England of Ella Khan (Mrs Khan No 2), along with the hilarious Auntie Annie who swiftly follow to sort out the mess George has created – both past and present
There is an especially good scene between the two Mrs. Khans (past and present)
who have a very moving dialogue (one only speaking Punjhabi, the other only English)
but all that needs to be said is expressed with emotion and body language
it is superbly acted, and to me
it's the best moment in the film
I found WEST TO WEST to be an enjoyable, moving sequel – and recommend it highly
especially likable to those that enjoyed EAST is EAST.
WEST IS WEST is 102mins long, is a 15 certificate and will be on general release from Friday 25th February 2011
