Rating: 
Summary: Hilarious, but just one big Stereotype
Review: This movie gets two stars because: a) Most of the actors put up a decent performance, and many moments of this movie were generally funny. That being said, this movie made absolutely no attempt to capture the real clash of culture and tradition that takes place when people from the 'East' migrate to the 'West'. Just to give some background, the story is about a family consisting of a 1st generation immigrant Pakistani father, his English wife, and their children, and the clash which takes place between the traditional father and the 'modern' children. The father is such a one-dimensional charachter. We know nothing about him: 1) What was his life like in Pakistan 2)Being as conservative as he is, what made him to marry an English woman? 3) Why do these two stay together, considering the horrible amount of abuse the father dishes out? We never see his point of view, except for one line in which he tries to explain to one of his sons why he is so harsh on them. That was it. The rest of the whole movie portrays him as uncouth, abusive and ignorant and nowhere does the movie attempt to show that any other form of South Asian man exists, i.e. that all people from the 'East' are like the father. Being South Asian, I take offense at this portrayal, as all it helps is to propagate stereotypes and racism against Pakistanis and other South Asians, which I don't think was necessary in this day and age. The movie makes a poor attempt capture the melancholy and struggle that immigrants go through in their new home. Watch it for laughs, but please, don't take this movie as representative of the South Asian diaspora in England/America, as you'll be doing all of them a dishonour. If this topic interests you, I recommend two movies, which are not so well known, but deal with the subject intelligently:
1)Hyderabad Blues
2)ABCD (Just released in theaters as of December 18th 2001).
Rating: 
Summary: Ethnic Comedy Sharply Turns Serious.
Review: Although the film flip-flops and completely loses it's delicate balance right before it concludes, there is enough that is absolutely right to recommend this autobiographical look at a working class Muslim family in Manchester, England. The humor is warm and genuine, and the inevitable brutality we uncomfortably witness is believable. The acting is first rate with a couple of marvelous stand out performances.East is East is set near Manchester in 1971. We meet George Khan (wonderfully played by Om Puri- who played a similar role in the better; My Son the Fanatic) who has one daughter and six sons, runs a fish and chips shop, and tries to control the lives of everyone in his family according to strict Muslim codes of behavior. Since he's also trying to be a good Muslim, good businessman, good father and keep up with current events involving the India-Pakistan war, he is not in touch with the details of his children's lives. In fact he doesn't even realize that his youngest son was never circumcised as is a Muslim tradition. He is also trying to be a good husband for the English woman he loves. Yes, his children are mixed, they are English and Pakistan. George's children see him as a hypocritical tyrant who screams orders to his family about the proper way to dress, the need to attend Muslim religious school, the necessity of arranged marriages which he himself has turned his back on, since he has left the first Mrs. Khan back in Pakistan. It's is the Muslim way of things and arranged marriages is how it must be done and George's offspring should not ask questions of how he married their English mom, but get in line and do as they are told. How the family relates to each other is captured well in the opening scene which shows his children naughtily joining a parade of Catholics, while their Mom, Ella (in a powerfully effective performance from Linda Basset), distracts their father George just enough so they can get away with their playful ruse. In an early scene, George's eldest son runs from the alter just prior to wedding a young Pakistan girl in an arranged meeting. He flees the alter and the family. Later it's matter-of-factly revealed he's gay and part of a very successful high fashion shop (hats I believe). To George this son has not just rejected the arranged marriage and become independent, but he has died. The tone that is set is one where humor comes out of very real autobiographical vignettes that seem authentic and realistic. In fact the film is based on a stage play which has been adapted for the screen by the play write; Ayub Khan-Din. It's directed by a very confident and assured freshman director, Damien O'Donnel. There are many themes that are woven throughout the film, the clash of traditions versus juvenille rebellion, the importance of family, the racism this family of Pakistani's face from even their neighbors, the sibling rivalries, the pursuit of one's dreams, the dangers of false pride, and the importance of love. All of these things are well balanced through almost the entire film. The performances are all very strong. There is an extended sequence involving the youngest boys' need for a circumcision, which is played mostly for humor, but reveals again how dominating George Kahn and his insistence of being a good Muslim family truly is. There are subplots involving a neighborhood romance which strike just the right type of awkward tone. There are several comedic moments that arise from the family's living conditions. Three of the six sons share the same bed. There is no indoor toilet facilities so pee pots and cast iron tubs are still in use. The film sharply turns to show us a brutal and disturbing scene. It's a scene that feels truthful and makes the film a lot more powerful than the almost light comedy it has been. Unfortunately after the film becomes disturbing it then tries tries to quickly shift back to it's earlier lighter tone. This attempted shift feels all wrong and left me with many mixed feelings. If we are indeed being authentic, then the film-makers insisting on trying give the film a feel-good type of ending is utterly hypocritical and false. Perhaps the material was mercilessly cut, and several scenes exist on the cutting room floor ( or in the original theatrical play) that would have made the film play much better. Or perhaps the film-makers failed to realize just how much impact the bit of brutality we see really has. It's a pity because when the film tries to switch back it derails and loses it's slice of life honesty to become just another film that only partially lets us peak into the lives of people who are different, yet very much like we are. I am glad however, that ultimately despite the flaws, and disappointing ending (where loose ends are left dangling everywhere) there is a deep lingering sense of the love and commitment that exists in a very strong, very unique marriage -George and Ella's. East is East won the Alexander Korda award for Outstanding British Film at this year's British Academy Awards. It's almost ironic since George Kahn is based on writer Ayub Khan Din's father who worked as an extra not just on Dam Busters (which is mentioned in East is East) but also on one of Korda's films as well. Kahn had some problem with racism on the set until Korda sat with Kahn during his lunch breaks.
Rating: 
Summary: worst ethnic movie EVER!
Review: I am simply amazed by this movies' ratings! How could people give such a junk movie 5 stars? I would have given it a ZERO. Why? Beacause it is a movie made by ignorant folks who have no knowledge of the Asian community. It is a highly offensive movie. It demonizes men as wife beaters (like nobody else on earth beats their wife), tyrannical father who "all in all" in the family and barely literate. Folks that made this movie, have absolutely no idea how Asians raise their kids in Asia and abroad. There are of course families that feels more attached to their roots and there are those who feels more connected to the new settlement. However, in this movie, it appears that the illiterate demon (the father) reamins a demon even after living 25 with an English woman. Watch this movie with "My Big Fat Greek Wedding". You will see how racially insulting this movie is. Even you might feel ashamed that you have watched it. I know I am.
Rating:
Summary: Comedy and pathos as cultures clash
Review: This 1999 British film is about the culture clash within a multicultural family living in Manchester, England, in 1971. The father, played by Om Puri, is Pakistani; the mother, played by Linda Basset, is English. They have seven children between the ages of 13 and 24 and run a fish and chips shop in a working class neighborhood. With a mixture of comedy and pathos, we feel the father's frustration as he tries to instill traditional Pakistani values into his family. Naturally they rebel as they are being raised in England and don't even speak their father's language. Each of the children copes in his or her own way, and there are some moments of hilarious comedy as the father tries to arrange marriages for his sons. But behind the humor, there's sadness, and I especially felt sorry for the 13 year-old boy who is forced to be circumcised. Mostly, the children want to be English and when the father becomes abusive to the mother, even the son who opted to be Muslim rebels against the father.
Acting is wonderful. Om Puri makes the audience both laugh at him and understand his grief. And the rest of the casting feels genuine. I was troubled about a few things though. One was the simple fact that there was no indoor plumbing and there are a lot of scenes including urinating in chamber pots. Another was that the joke is always on the Pakistanis; the father looks like a fool over and over again. We laugh at him and are angry at him and even understand him a little bit. But he doesn't get any sympathy and we learn nothing positive about the Pakistani culture. If I were Pakistani, I'd be angry. I did enjoy the story and the acting. But it's a bit too painful to be a comedy. And it just doesn't work as a drama. I therefore can only give it a lukewarm recommendation.
Rating: 
Summary: Pure heart
Review: Take one fiercely proud Pakistani, transport him to Manchester (England), get him married to a local and produce 7 kids! This is a fantastic movie and one of the best I have seen about family. In Om Puri's own words it is like Chaplin: humour with a message. The story of George Khan (magnificently played by Om Puri) his ambitions for his family (six boys and one girl) against the backdrop of the early 70s in Manchester. I must admit I was expecting slapstick, but this is really powerful stuff and captures the tensions within a family very well indeed. It is hilarious and there are some really deft touches that can only come from autobiography (the mock Hindi movie dancing at the back of the chip shop is one and the whole sequence around the arranged marriages is another. This film is not just about Asian families and it is not just about England in the 1970s (although the period and racial significance is very well captured). This is a wonderful film about unresolved family conflicts and expectations and should be seen by everyone, everywhere.
Rating:
Summary: A drama - comedy about a multicultural family
Review: How to get a heap full of problems caused by a multicultural family? - Put together a strict religious Pakistani man and a woman coming from a British working class family!
The film „East is East" is very interesting because it shows a multicultural family, the Khans, and their problems. At the beginning you are involved in the actions immediately, because the conflict between the father and the rest of the family is represented very well. This conflict is about the Muslim tradition of the father and the rest of the family, who wants to live the British way of life. The father, George, forces the typical Pakistani tradition upon to all of his children. Therefore the children are not allowed to live their own life. The consequence is a strong and at the same time humorous rebellion against the father.
The plot is plausible and easy to follow. The film has a good mix between humorous and dramatic scenes. Furthermore, the variety of characters is the most positive aspect of the film for me. George for example is a character who is lovely and sympathetic, but he can also become violent. Each member of the Khan family occupies a different position along a cultural fault line. Especially the seven children have interesting characters. One of them is gay and flees from his arranged marriage. Moreover there is a party-loving rebel and another child is a very religious Muslim. The only daughter wants to live as a boy and loves to play football.
The only negative aspect for me is the end of the film. It is very superficial and does not fulfil the viewers expectations since you do not know if the father really changes his attitude.
But I think the film is very good, because it describes the typical problems of such a family. If you are interested in this kind of family conflicts, the film will entertain you.
Rating:
Summary: Worst movie ever!
Review: This has been the worst movie ever, look at what the characters are eating in the movie. BEACON. What is bacon made of? PIG. One of the major rule of islam is never to digest anything with pig ingredits, if this movie was a comedy then WTF are the producers doing by dissing a major religin. Another aslpect of the movie was the idea of the screwed up family, the time frame isn't right for one thing if the first kid dropped the engagement then the whole family would have been thrown out of the community and shamed to harshly that would be looked on as a lowlife. There would be no way to set the second and the third wedding. This movie was a major turn off and a waste of time.
Rating:
Summary: A NICE LITTLE BRITISH NUMBER
Review: Taking in over £10 million at the UK box office, its no wonder this DVD is all the hype. With extra features such as deleted scenes, interviews with the cast and crew, behind the scenes footage, theatrical trailer and TV spots it's worth having this DVD for these alone. Based on a semi- autobiographical play by writer Ayub Khan Din this award winning comedy gives us an insight into the Anglo- Asian clash in 1970's Salford. George Khan ( Om Puri) is a Pakistani immigrant who owns a chip shop and tries to force his seven English born children to follow the traditional Pakistani ways. This film is both funny and tragic as the harsh scenes of domestic violence are placed alongside British humour, which at times both are very stereo typical and do often portray the Asian culture in a bad light. Still with its tongue firmly in cheek 'East is East' is not one to be missed. One of the best comedies I have seen in ages. I can't remember the last time I laughed so much. Want to have a good laugh? Then click and order this one now!
Rating:
Summary: A drama - comedy about a multicultural family
Review: How to get a heap full of problems caused by a multicultural family? - Put together a strict religious Pakistani man and a woman coming from a British working class family!
The film „East is East" is very interesting because it shows a multicultural family, the Khans, and their problems. At the beginning you are involved in the actions immediately, because the conflict between the father and the rest of the family is represented very well. This conflict is about the Muslim tradition of the father and the rest of the family, who wants to live the British way of life. The father, George, forces the typical Pakistani tradition upon to all of his children. Therefore the children are not allowed to live their own life. The consequence is a strong and at the same time humorous rebellion against the father.
The plot is plausible and easy to follow. The film has a good mix between humorous and dramatic scenes. Furthermore, the variety of characters is the most positive aspect of the film for me. George for example is a character who is lovely and sympathetic, but he can also become violent. Each member of the Khan family occupies a different position along a cultural fault line. Especially the seven children have interesting characters. One of them is gay and flees from his arranged marriage. Moreover there is a party-loving rebel and another child is a very religious Muslim. The only daughter wants to live as a boy and loves to play football.
The only negative aspect for me is the end of the film. It is very superficial and does not fulfil the viewers expectations since you do not know if the father really changes his attitude.
But I think the film is very good, because it describes the typical problems of such a family. If you are interested in this kind of family conflicts, the film will entertain you.
Rating:
Summary: A definite must see movie!
Review: In the same vein as Bend It Like Beckman and Monsoon Wedding, East is East tells the story of one family and the traditional but very different family values that each member shares. It's a simple story but told from all view points and through out the movie you wonder how will it all come together! United States fans of the British soap Eastenders will want to take note that the actor Jimi Mistry who plays the son Tony was also Dr. Fonseca!
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