Herald rating: * * *
Running time: 96 mins
Rental: Now
Review: Ewan McDonald
George Khan (Om Puri) is a Pakistani immigrant to England, living in Manchester in 1971 with his British wife, Ella (Linda Bassett), who works in the local fish and chip shop, and their unruly herd of seven children.
As the movie opens, George glows proudly as an arranged marriage ceremony for his oldest son begins in a town hall. "I can't do this, Dad!" shouts the son, running out. George is humiliated.
George is big, tough and loud while Ella holds the family together through her mastery of compromise. He clings to the values of the old country although he has moved to a new one; has taken a British wife although he left a Muslim wife behind in Pakistan; and is trying to raise multiracial children through monoracial eyes.
Meanwhile his family tries to fit into the society they were born into and will live their lives in, to cope with the seductions of pop music and fashion their father fears. One son is in love with the neighbour's blonde daughter.
If either father should find out, life in a small row of brick terrace houses in Manchester will never be the same ... it all adds up to a rich black comedy.
AdvertisementAdvertise with NZME.
Latest from Lifestyle
'Childhood favourite disappears': Classic Kiwi treat to be axed
'We grew up buying these for 20c each. It's sad to see a classic go.'