Within British comedy film, the issue of immigration has been explored with films such as East is East (1999) focusing on a Muslim family living in Bradford in the 70s. Interestingly, immigration from India and Pakistan reached its peak between 1965 and 1974. Therefore, East is East gives an insight to how ethnic minority families lived in urban areas, where there was a higher number of white Britons lived.
Analysis of East is East trailer (1999)
East is East focuses (1999) focuses on an unconventional family living in Salford, Greater Manchester, in 1971. The family is comprised of mixed-ethnicity, where the father is Pakistani and the mother is English. The father, George Khan ( Om Puri) is stereotyped as the strict Asian father who expects his family to follow the traditional Pakistani ways. Howeve his children who were born and grew up in Britain, tend to adopt the British lifestyle and culture,which results in them rejecting their father's traditonal rules on dress, food, religion, and lifestyle.
In this trailer, the rejection of Pakistani values is signified, as one of the protagonists, Tariq (Jimi Mistry) is absorbed in the British culture of drinking and dressing in western clothes. In contrast to Tariq, Muneer (Emil Marwa) is indoctrinated into Islam and seems to follow his father's rules. In society, about 25 per cent of Pakistanis and Bangladeshis aged between fourteen and twenty five were attending Muslim religious services by 1993. Evidently, the film supports the facts, as the family are forced to attend Koran classes by their father and are indoctrinated about the Muslim faith.
Within the trailer, the rejection of traditional values is signified, as Tariq is signified in a long shot smoking, which goes against the Muslim values and is deemed sinful. As well as this, Tariq has a whit girlfriend which signifies how he is more liberal and westernised, as he chooses to walk out on his family rather than marry a 'Paki'. Like most Asian families, George Khan stereotypical chooses to have arranged marriages for his sons, this is signified in the trailer, as Mr Khan is happy at the prospect of seeing his sons married. As he meets another Pakistani family, he is introduced to two daughters of a wealthy man, Mr Shah (Madhav Sharma) . However, his joyful facial expression changes, as seen in a close up shot. He reacts strongly at the sight of the two women who are ugly, though he reconsiders and puts on a brave face.
In contrast to this, Abdul (Raji James) is signified in a medium shot drinking a pint of beer, which connotes how younger muslims were more westernised, due to their environment and seemed to adopt British culture. Unlike proper muslims , the Khan family eat sausages and are cared by an English mother which connotes how they are more British than Pakistani. The British reaction to arrange marriage is comical, as Tariq and Abdul are marrying two 'ugly' women, which is ironic, as they want to marry other women who are not Pakistani.
In this film, the immigrants seemed to be accepted by younger white Britons. Though older Britons such as Mr Moorhouse, are more racist and exenophobiic towrd immigrants in the country and is an avid Enoch Powell supporter. In many ways, the film reflects typical opinion of members of the public in the 1970s, as White Britons were more racist, with groups such as the National Front opposing immigration.
Southall Riots (1979)
This attached article is one of the famous attacks on the ethnic minority in the 1970s. The Southall riots in 1979 showed public contempt and hatred of ethnic minorities. In this article from the BBC, the Southall riots have been disputed as a major event which resulted in the death of school teacher Blair Peach who defended ethnic minorities living in Southall.
1979: Teacher dies in Southall race riots
A 33-year-old man has died from head injuries after a bloody battle broke out between police and demonstrators in Southall.The fighting began when thousands of protesters gathered to demonstrate against a National Front campaign meeting.The extreme right-wing organisation had chosen Southall Town Hall to hold its St George's Day election meeting. The area has one of the country's biggest Asian communities.
"It was a case of the boot going in - there was no attempt to arrest anybody"
Martin Gerrald, Anti-Nazi League protestor
Police had sealed off the area, and anti-racism demonstrators trying to make their way to the town hall were blocked.
In the confrontation that followed, more than 40 people, including 21 police, were injured, and 300 were arrested. Bricks and bottles were hurled at police, who described the rioting as the most violent they have handled in London.
Among the demonstrators was Blair Peach, a New Zealand-born member of the Anti-Nazi League. A teacher for special needs children in east London, he was a committed anti-racism activist.
During an incident in a side street 100 yards from the town hall, he was seriously injured and collapsed, blood running down his face from serious head injuries. He died later in hospital.
Witnesses said his injuries were caused by police baton blows. Martin Gerrald, one of the protestors, was nearby Mr Peach at the time.
"Mr Peach was hit twice in the head with police truncheons and left unconscious," he said. "The police were wielding truncheons and riot shields. It was a case of the boot just going in - there was no attempt to arrest anybody."
'Excessively violent' charge
Another witness, 24-year-old Parminder Atwal, took the injured teacher into his house and called an ambulance.
He said, "I saw a policeman hit a man on the head as he sat on the pavement. The man tried to get up, fell back and then reeled across the road to my house."
The Anti-Nazi League claim Mr Peach bore the brunt of a "brutal" and "excessively violent" police baton charge.
A spokesman for Scotland Yard said it was impossible to comment on the death until a full-scale inquiry had been completed.
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