ADFF Film Review: West Is West

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The anticipated follow-up to 1999’s hit East is East picks up the story of Pakistani-expatriate family in the north of England, with the patriarch George Khan (now 60) and his son Sajid, now 15, at the centre of this story.

Both father and son, at very different levels, struggle with the identity of growing up and living as people with Pakistani heritage in England.  From Sajid’s tormenters at his school and his father’s insistence on maintaining his cultural values through to George’s own struggles leaving behind everything he knew to make a life in Pakistan.

It is through a series of these events that we learn George left behind much more than just Pakistan 30 years ago, he left a family and wife. He returns, with Sajid, to teach the young boy about his heritage. What we get (and George gets) is so much more.

While going into the plot further here introduces too many spoilers, West is West picks up well on the themes struggling for identity and the notion of home, place and culture as a migrant.  Beautifully constructed and shot in the Indian state of Punjab, the dialogue of the film plays out some of these ‘lessons’ in a touching and often light way. The acting is perfect for the film with Om Puri reprising his character of George from East is East in an almost perfect way.

Not so much a sequel to East is East, but an extension, acting as almost a mirror to the film. This is a great tale, constructed on so many levels, that deserves a second watch. Fittingly, the story and themes fits well into any context, especially in an expatriate environment.

Although the literal situation in West in West is different to most people, there is a strong message - fitting back in after being away is sometimes harder than leaving.

WATCH THE TRAILER HERE

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