Actresses Lesley Nicol, Zita Sattar and Ila Arun attend the 'West Is West' Premiere held at Roy Thompson Hall during the 35th Toronto International Film Festival (Pictures by Mahesh Abeyewardene)
Sequel to East is East portrays chaos of returning to an unfamiliar culture
West is West directed by Andy De Emmony had its gala presentation at the Toronto International Film Festival (TIFF) of this year.
Over a decade ago screenplay writer Ayub Khan Din’s script of East is East became one of the most popular films at the time because of its story of a Pakistani family living in Britain in the 70s. The family was struggling to keep the identity as South Asians and facing numerous difficulties to get adjusted to the Western culture. In West is West Khan has flipped his storyline to show the homecoming of a man, George (Om Puri) after living 30 years in Britain.
Better Movie
Producer Leslee Udwin says it took years to convince Ayub Khan Din to write “West is West” after the success of the first film. “The hard work paid-off, the sequel is a better movie”, the British producer said in Toronto.
Actors Om Puri and Aqib Khan arrive for TIFF premiere.
In the story, George abandoned his young family – wife and daughter- in Pakistan and came to Britain and married a British woman. They had two sons. Due to the odd behavior of his second son, Sajid (Aqib Khan) George decided to go back to Pakistan for one month with his teenaged son, Sajid to understand the roots of his family. Sajid arrives in Pakistan in full suit and struggles to get adjusted to hot and dusty weather and his relatives.
At the same time, George tries to convince his former wife and trying his best to put up a new house and settle down in Pakistan. George’s first wife, being a very simple and humble woman, shed tears in silence and wiped the wedding photograph taken 30 years ago and contemplates her sacrifice as a woman.
Finding a bride
Cameron Bailey, Co-Director of TIFF introduces the film.
George’s eldest son, Maneer (Emil Marwa) who returned to Pakistan one year ago finds it hard to find a bride. Nobody in the village is willing to give a daughter in a marriage to a man who was born and lived in the West. Sajid with his cousin roaming around the village admires the young females and eyed a young woman for his brother.
Unexpectedly, George’s British wife arrives with a friend and George gets trapped in between and keeps on struggling to survive in that situation. Once with tears in his eyes George says to his British wife, “How can I forget you? When I arrived in Britain you held my hand and walked on the streets without any shame or fear.”
West Is West director Andy De Emmony.
Just like millions of other South Asian women, George’s first wife didn’t fight back in public. She neither had the strength nor the courage to draw the line between right and wrong. Ultimately, she accepts her destiny and takes an active part in her step-son’s wedding ceremony. She applies henna in the hands of her husband’s British wife. The grateful look in George’s British wife’s face shows that everything is going to end up smoothly.
In my childhood and youth I was labeled as one who liked to watch movies with happy endings. Lot more out over there like to watch similar type of movies with their family. West is West is a humourous family movie which all the members of the family can sit together and enjoy.
Udwin says it was a stroke of luck to cast the role of Sajid. After numerous auditions for the role, Aqib Khan was the last boy to roll in at the final casting call in the United Kingdom. Many adolescents straddling two identities can relate to his role in West is West.
