Project Detail

East is East

Jaap Buitendijk

Synopsis

Set in Salford in 1970, East is East is a fast moving comedy of mixed-race manners. It centres on the Anglo-Pakistani alliance of the Khan family that is both claustrophobically cohesive and desperately dysfunctional. In their cramped Salford terrace house, daily anarchy erupts with farcical energy. The Khan children, being caught between bell-bottoms and arranged marriages, scoff surreptitious rashers of bacon as they are buffeted this way and that by their father's insistence on tradition, their English mother's laissez-faire, and their own wish to be citizens of the modern world.

Based on the award-winning stage play by Ayub Khan-Din, East is East was originally produced by the Royal Court Theatre, revived due to critical acclaim at the Theatre Royal in Stratford East 1997.

Details

Year: 1999
Type of project: Features
Format: 35mm
Director: Damien O'Donnell 1st Feature
Producer: Leslee Udwin
Director of Photography: Brian Tufano BSC
Principal cast: Om Puri, Linda Bassett
Screen Writer: Ayub Khan-Din

Genre

Literary Adaptation Asian Comedy Drama

Production Status

Complete

Production Company

Assassin Films Ltd 74 Holland Park London W11 3SL Tel/Fax: 020 7243 8028

Sales Company

Film Four International 124 Horseferry Road London SW1P 2TX Tel: 020 7306 8602 Fax: 020 7306 8361 Email: sbrucesmith@channel4.co.uk astreet@channel4.co.uk

Page updates

This page was last updated on 12th May 2025. Please let us know if we need to make any amendments or request edit access by clicking below.

Suggest amendments

The story of Michael (Steven Robertson), a 24-year-old with cerebral palsy and long-term resident of the Carrigmore Residential Home for the Disabled. His life is transformed when the maverick Rory O' Shea (James McAvoy) moves in. Michael is stunned to discover that fast talking Rory, who can move only his right hand, can understand his almost unintelligible speech. Rory's dynamic and rebellious nature soon sparks a flame in Michael, introducing him to a whole new world outside Carrigmore. Together the two men outwit the system and set themselves up in a flat employing the beautiful Siobhan (Romola Garai) as their personal assistant, to cook, clean and take care of their needs. She soon becomes integral to the boys efforts at successful independent living and begins to realise that this responsibility brings as many complications as it does rewards.

Northern Irish Drama

A mixed race woman looks directly into the camera with her hands around her own neck, lying against orange velvet pillows.

Choked

Director: Travis Alabanza

Year: 2026

Shakona doesn't always want to be treated so nicely, sometimes she wants to feel like the world does: chaotic. Yet she can't get her devoted and loving boyfriend Eddie to meet her needs, so she goes to where all good decisions are made, a hookup app. Just as it seems like Shakona is finally letting go, she has the chance to take power into her own hands...

Black Comedy Drama LGBTQIA+

Madrugada

Director: Sebastián Lojo