Summary

The film East is East (1999) directed by Damien O'Donnell tells the story of a mixed-race family living in England in the 1970s.

The film opens with the Khan children, accompanied by an acquaintance, Annie, attending a Christian procession. They run when their mother, Ella, comes to tell them that their father, George, will arrive soon. After George can no longer see them, they rejoin the procession. 

The family prepares for the wedding of the oldest son, Nazir. When they arrive at the venue and the bride is brought in, Nazir gets cold feet and runs away, claiming he cannot go through with the marriage. Nazir’s photograph is then removed from the wall. 

Later at the mosque, George complains to the mullah about his children. He regrets not moving to a town with more Pakistanis, to avoid this trouble. The mullah points out that George’s children are different. We see Meenah, the only daughter of the family playing football with the boys. Tariq is dating a blonde girl in the neighborhood, Stella Moorhouse, without the knowledge of her racist grandfather. Sajid, the youngest boy, always wears a parka and hides whenever he is supposed to go to the mosque. Mr. Moorhouse’s grandson, Earnest, appears to have a crush on Meenah. 

George is worried about the situation back home in Pakistan because his family lives near the border with India. Ella warns him not to bring his first wife to England. 

When Sajid is discovered to be uncircumcised, George insists on his operation, even if Sajid and Ella are against it. While their parents are away, Meenah, Tariq, and Saleem eat bacon and sausages, while Maneer, the devout and obedient son, complains of the smell. George and Ella arrive unexpectedly, carrying Sajid, prompting the others to hide the forbidden food in a hurry. 

George and the mullah plan another wedding, ...