Consideration of Social Themes and Their Presentation in East is East, director Damien ODonnell - Movie Review Example

Name: Professor Course: Date: “East is East’’, dir. Damien O’Donnell, 1999” Introduction The film: “East is East”, is a presentation of various forms of conflict undergoing between two distinct cultures; Pakistan as well as English. The conflict is presented in forms of power, culture, religion and identity. As a result, identity crisis is evident and the family is portrayed in the various ways in which they employ dealing with their differences. The characters include; George, who is the father of seven children and also a husband to Ella: an English woman he marries on his arrival to Britain after abandoning his first wife back in his homeland. George is said to have traveled and settled in Britain from Pakistan, where he has a family upon which he is placed demands of having Pakistan culture reversed despite the fact that he already has gone against the same. Consideration of social themes and their presentation in; “East is East, dir. Damien O’Donnell, 1999” The film: ‘East is East’, presents awareness of political as well as economic situations encountered in 1970s within England. This is appropriately exhibited through the encounters of George’s family as well the environment they live in. The economic situation is considerably unfavorable such that the family is not even in a position to afford individual beds for the sons hence having one shared by three sons (Merskin, 2011, 56). Sanitation in the house in not update as in-house toilet is not provided hence making them to use desperate measures such as ‘pee-pots’, which is considerably unhealthy. The political situation is rather unstable as there is war going on between India and Pakistan of which George is seen to be very keenly following as he runs his shop.  Importance of dressing code in Pakistan culture and differentiation of religious and cultural practices  The Islamic religion is highly regarded in Pakistan and so is the required dressing code for Muslims. George, who in this case, plays as the head of the family is very specific with the Islamic dress code of which he considers religiously acceptable (Ali, Kalra, & Sayyid, 2008, 68).  Arranged marriages were commonly practiced in the past though it is still recognized in some communities especially the Muslims. It is important to note that British community did not welcome arranged marriages very well and so did George’s children who embraced British culture more than their father’s Pakistan origin (Merskin, 2011, 98). In the modern society, arranged marriages are considered rather traditional and just like in George’s family, the modern generation reject this kind of a set up and they feel the need to ‘stretch out’ and find their own matches. Key patterns to the conflicts caused within the family The two distinct cultures represented in this family form the basis for disagreements patterns as represented in the film. The father who is of Pakistan origin becomes considerably aggressive in ensuring that his children adopt his culture. This is not an easy task for George considering that his children are already exposed and raised in the British environment hence more inclined to it as compared to Pakistan culture. On the other hand, the mother who is British tends to differ with her husband’s rigid manner of raising his children as she tries the best she can persuading him become a little bit easy on them (Merskin, 2011, 106). However, George who had earlier married in his homeland throws threats to his wife that if she keeps disagreeing with him, he would consider getting the other wife. This absolutely silences Ella, so she decides to keep cool until some other conflict arises (Rüdiger & Gross, 2009, 63). How culture is linked to identity  Culture depicts as well as governs ones way of life and it can therefore not be ignored considering that it eventually shapes one’s identity. For instance, George upholds Pakistan culture where Islamic religion is highly regarded and as a matter of fact, he is identified in accordance to Islamic culture in terms of food, clothing and organized marriages. In this particular case, George is trying to pose like an ideal father to the children and he wants them to lead an ideal Pakistan life (Ali, Kalra, & Sayyid, 2008, 78). On the other hand, these children regard themselves as British hence of a different identity as that of their father. It is therefore clear that the distinct identities represented in the film are in accordance with their provisioned cultures; British and Pakistan. George’s strong links with Pakistan culture also leads him to interests in following up with events regarding war that is going on between India and his country of origin: Pakistan (Rüdiger & Gross, 2009, 68). Culture is also evident in this case, such that despite the fact that George lives in Britain and has married an English woman, he does not detach himself from the events in his homeland as well as anything that concerns Pakistan. This is by itself classified as George’s identity with Islamic religion as well as Pakistan way of life. How the film treats Islamic culture and relation of gender to roles within the family  The film cannot be said to treat Islamic culture in a rather sympathetic manner considering that it takes much time to depict its rejection by George’s family. Islamic culture is thereby associated with somewhat traditional practices and beliefs that are not in the least appealing to the modern society where this family considers belonging. Islamic culture is also the more associated with foreign cultures particularly the Pakistan thereby suffering racism. In this case, Pakistanis and other foreign races are discriminated and Islamic culture does not escape this improper treatment considering that most English people are Christians hence against Islamic culture. Gender roles are evidently structured by the cultural provisions whereby males are considered superior to women (Ali, Kalra, & Sayyid, 2008, 135). In this case, George takes the role of head of family while the mother; Ella, does the work of raising children at home. In this film, it is evident that Pakistan culture expects the father to ensure that his family especially the male children undergo circumcision and George does exactly that but he forgets one son: Sajid who is considered uncircumcised (Rüdiger & Gross, 2009, 124). More so, Pakistan as well as the British culture expects the head of the family who is in this case a male, to fend for his family. This is the reason as to why George works very hard as a businessman in order to ensure that he meets his family’s needs accordingly. George, who is in the business of selling fish as well as chips, can be categorically regarded as a father who goes out of his way in a foreign country and sets up a business relying on the same people against his culture as his target market (Merskin, 2011, 26). Pakistan culture upheld by George also expects the father to ensure that culture is well preserved by the way of arranging marriages with other Pakistan families for his children. On the other hand, Pakistan culture expects the mother to be very close to the children and that is the reason why the children were more conversant with their mother’s culture than that of their father (Jochimsen, 2010, 94).   The relationship between power and culture There is a considerable relationship between power and culture particularly that depicted on the film in question. Power can be portrayed and presented in different ways including the family set up where the head of the family is expected to be superior. In this case, culture does provide the structure of power and the different hierarchies. For instance, the mother takes the second position from the father and so in the absence of the overall, she is expected to keep things running properly (Ali, Kalra, & Sayyid, 2008, 82). Ella, George’s wife, is found to take her position of power within the family very responsibly making sure that their seven children are comfortable and copping well with the mixed culture they find themselves in. This is the same reason why, Ella, finds it important to even pose as the children’s spokesperson, persuading George to be a little bit lenient with his tough rather archaic cultural directives. Power and in its hierarchies is evident as the children take the very low position hence making it difficult to reach their father and engage in a meaningful conversation. In accordance with Pakistan culture, it would be unacceptable for a father in his position of power to let the children disobey him without taking necessary disciplinary measures (Ali, Kalra, & Sayyid, 2008, 29). This is the reason why George decides to even denounce his first born; Nazir, who not only flees on the day of his arranged wedding but also decides to become gay; a behavior that the father considered as completely against Islamic culture. In this case, George decided to use his power in denouncing the son which was expected to serve as good example to Nazir’s siblings.   Culture also finds its relationship with power in respect to the distinct cultures available as well as their level of influence. In this film, the British Culture has got more influence compared to that of Pakistan origins hence overruling the Pakistan. It is important to note that, it is because of the high power as well as influence the British has over Pakistan culture that racism is so rampant and there are no signs of its condemnation (Merskin, 2011, 37). How the film presents issues of empire, nationality and ‘race’ The distinct but related issues of race, empire as well as nationality are very well presented in this film. The empire is presented to depict dominion whereby British kingdom was considered a considerably sovereign as well as powerful state within the north western region of Europe (Goffman, 2001, 85). This high status and sovereignty made it possible for Britain to overrule other States and also extended its powers overboard especially to those nationalities that decided to settle within their territory. Nationality tends to be substantially associated with empire but in this case, two different nationalities are put into consideration; Pakistan as well as British nationalities. These two nationalities are based on the country of origin and it clear that these are facts and identities that can never be changed (Rüdiger & Gross, 2009, 46). As a matter of fact, as much as one’s nationality cannot be altered, some people decide to ‘loosen’ up slightly and embrace the cultural practices of their acquired environment. However, this has not been the case with George of Pakistan nationality as he greatly upholds his nationality and is rather loyal to the traditional practices characterizing particularly his Islamic culture. Race also forms a remarkable element of consideration, whereby people of different nationalities have different racial descriptions. In this case, the two nationalities represented in the film, bring about the two distinct races with British being superior to Pakistan. It is important to note that the distinct racial differences do not serve as an excuse for racial discrimination since it would be possible for the two races to accept and accommodate each other (Merskin, 2011, 76). However, in this film’s presentation, the racial differences have not been accommodated and George’s family has suffered discrimination even by the neighbors making their existence in a foreign land rather agonizing (Jochimsen, 2010, 54).   The film director uses the decision George makes to take ‘half a cup of tea’ to put forth a message of incomplete feeling in his life together with that of his family. George is portrayed as one who is struggling with a lot of family and cultural issues and despite the challenges encountered, he is not ready to give up. The ‘half a cup’ is therefore depicting that there is a lot more to be done in order for George to feel satisfied with his life as an ideal husband as well as a father (Goffman, 2001, 65). How family members deal with their own identity crisis and how they use culture to subvert dominant power structures Family members in George’s family are very much aware of identity crisis facing them and are presented to deal with them in a rather conflicting manner. The mother; Ella, identifies with English nationality, their father with the Pakistan hence making the children have two identities to choose from. In this particular case, George’s children opt to reject Pakistan identity and uphold English identity which seems more accommodating to modernism of which they defend. This preference of a different identity to that of their father brings about great disagreements since all the more, the father heads the family and expects his decisions particularly cultural ones, observed (Merskin, 2011, 46). The mother, Ella, has been portrayed as one who tries to bring some sort of an agreement to the two conflicting identities within the family considering that the rest of the parties are rigid. Ella is very understanding and although her efforts do not yield much, it still keeps the family going for some time. George’s children also identify with Catholic religion while George prefers Islam and this raises disagreements in practices identified with (Goffman, 2001, 72).   The film presents the characters as using culture to undermine dominant power structures particularly in instances whereby George’s children opt to become disrespectful to their father (Rüdiger & Gross, 2009, 76). Ideally, George’s children are expected to honor and observe directives provided by the sovereign power within the family set up but since English Culture tend to overrule their father’s, they feel justified to go against the rather dominant power organization (Goffman, 2001, 63). It is clear from the film presentation that people do not have the luxury of choice of culture of origin, however, there is an allowance whereby one is free to decide whether to disown the culture of origin and embrace one provided in the existing environment. In this case, George’s children are an appropriate example as they have two options and opted English culture, rejecting the Pakistan one (Merskin, 2011, 92).  The film is clear in the presentation of the various communities and regions whereby cultural, identity as well as power related struggles are encountered. The film is specific with the Western region where power and need to overrule other nationalities has cultivated undesirable conditions for foreigners hence suffering racial discrimination.   Conclusion It is evident from the film that the society particularly the family in question is described by distinct but relating social themes. In this case, distinct cultural practices are evident and have been portrayed to result to identity crisis within George’s Family. There are also presentations of how culture governs power structures as well the relations and conflicts encountered. George, his wife; Ella, and their seven children have presented a considerably appropriate set of characters in whose life’s encounters, the various cultural, racial and power differences are exhibited. The film makes it clear that cultural integration is not an easy task but very challenging particularly when it’s occurring within and outside the family like in George’s case References Merskin D., L., 2011. Media, Minorities, and Meaning: A Critical Introduction. Oregon: Peter Lang Rüdiger P, & Gross K, 2009. Translation of Cultures. New York: Rodopi Ali, N., Kalra, P, & Sayyid P., 2008. A Postcolonial People: South Asians in Britain. Columbia: Columbia University Press Goffman L., W., 2001. Michigan: Lives in two languages: an exploration of identity and culture. Michigan: University of Michigan Press Jochimsen M., 2010. Deconstruction of Stereotypes in "East is East" and "Ae Fond Kiss". Germany: GRIN Verlag Read More