East is East lifestyles
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When cultures clash: Which allusions to Pakistani / English lifestyles does the movie offer? List these allusions, sum up your perception of those different lifestyles.
The film in general is a typical culture clash comedy. It offers some allusions to Pakistani and English lifestyles and the problems that occur when these ways of life clash.
The whole family is Muslim, so it is prohibited to eat meat from animals that were not properly killed or pork, especially sausages, but the kids do not care about that. This scene is a very funny one, because the children had to hide the smell of the delicious pork from the father but this situation is a serious problem for second-generation immigrants, because they have to fulfil the traditions of their parents’ home country with which the children haven't had any contact at all.
Another allusion is the typical western English girlfriend of Tariq, the complete opposite of the woman his father would choose. It is obvious that the director intended to single out a blond, full bosomed girl with blue eyes and a dull and naive character. This underlines the different point of views within the family.
The character of Stella's friend Peggy also implies that people in England are more refined and wealthier than Pakistani, because she is really stout.
Additionally the scene where the arranged meeting of Tariq and Abdul with their future wives takes places, is appropriate to allude on English and western demands, because both girls are not that fair, and in my opinion, if they where in Pakistan, Tariq and Abdul would have had to take them. The faces of the characters, especially George's, were clear. It is funny that even the very Muslim George has demands on the outer appearance of his son's wives.
An allusion to the differences between Pakistani and English lifestyle is Meenah, the only daughter. She obviously stands on the English side. She refuses it to wear Pakistani clothes and prefers to play football. Meenah often is pert; she likes to provoke her younger brother Sajid and seems to be very impatient. So she is the opposite of Maneer, an older brother. Maneer defends Pakistani traditions and is the only family member apart from George who is convinced to go to the mosque. So both children stand for another lifestyle. In my eyes this is a very subtle situation, because the Khan family is a split one.
Substance for another conflict in the family is offered by the fact that Tariq is known as "Tony" in the clubs he goes to every night. So he thinks an appropriate English name would help him to become a member of the British society and a real English man.
All these examples underline the situation of the family and illustrate the struggle against the oppression of the father and his Pakistani traditions.
Diana
