Bhaji On the Beach Info

Bhaji On the Beach:

It is a 1993 British comedy drama film, which was directed by Gurinder Chadha and produced by Nadi Marsh - Edwards.

The films main actors were
Kim Vithana who played Ginder
Jimmi Harkishin who played Ranjit
Sarita Khajuria who played Hashida

East Is East Review

East Is East Reviews:

New York Times: http://www.nytimes.com/library/film/041400east-film-review.html

Radio Times: http://www.radiotimes.com/film/vtms/east-is-east

Film 4: http://www.film4.com/reviews/1999/east-is-east

Conclusion: East is East is a very good film, it portrays and challenges many different themes throughout its which help it appeal to a large target audience. It has helped many actors become hugely successful and go on to really further and develop their career. The film is a comedy drama starring Om Puri, Linda Bassett and Jimi Mistry. Where a traditional Pakistani father attempts to impose strict religious barriers on his children such as arranged marriages. However this being the 1970s in England they have very different ideas this creates tension and causes them to rebel and ensures mayhem.

My Review:

East is East was a comedy which balanced humour with a serious streak, it won awards and the hearts of many different audiences and become one Film Four’s most successful films, it is set in the early 1970’s in Salford, Manchester. It is based on George the father whoever it also shows the problems which the family has to go through, they are either struggling to fit into a British life or they are constantly rebelling against their own religion. They have a devoted Pakistani father who is very dominant and a catholic mother which means they are constantly being pushed to do everything which their father says however they quite often just rebel against this. For example in the beginning scene the eldest son was forced to marry someone however he rebelled against this ran out of the ceremony and this may had also caused him to turn homosexual. He is then disowned by his father and also leads to the rebellious acts of the other children. The children dream of the teenage freedom and feeling which British people their age have as opposed to the Asian restrictions they are currently facing, they are resistant against it and the family constantly lieing and breaking the rules ensues they get to try this. The film is funny, charming and refreshing however the treatment of the domestic violence theme is a sour note for the film however overall is a very good film. 

My Beautiful Launderette Reviews

My Beautiful Launderette Reviews:

http://www.screenonline.org.uk/film/id/443819/index.html

http://www.dvdverdict.com/reviews/mybeautifullaundrette.php

http://www2.eufs.org.uk/films/my_beautiful_laundrette.html

These reviews are very similar in terms that they all describe the same sort of aspects. For example it explains the synopsis of the film, the main characters and the influence which they have on the film itself, all of the different reviews explain the huge impact which Thatcherism has and how during this period of time the citizens of the UK had to work extremely hard in terms of manual labour to try and reach the top. It also goes on to explain how Omar and Johnnies passionate sexual relationship is very unique and symbolic because for the time it was very unique for a Pakistani and a British person to have a relationship however this goes one step further because they are two men which is even more unique. One of the particular goes into a lot more depth about how it was actually filmed it was originally shot on 16mm, it was so well received by critics at the Edinburgh Film Festival that it was internationally distributed for cinema on 35mm

My Review:

My Beautiful Launderette (Stephen Fears, 1985) is a very unique and up and coming film, it is constantly challenging and breaking boundaries which British Asian films had never gone before which explains how innovative the director Stephen Fears and the producers are trying to be.

The film is set in 1985 and it takes a huge in depth look of how the Asian communities and British communities are portrayed during this time and how they constantly clashed. It is challenging the problems which both different types of communities have faced under Thatcherism. It is ground breaking because of how in depth the film goes into issues such as: sexuality, race, class and generational difference, which ultimately appeals to a large target audience. For example Johnny and Omar have a huge sexual and passionate gay relationship which is breaking many boundaries because many audiences hadn’t seen a gay relationship at the time, however this pushes it even further because they see a relationship between a Pakistani and a British person which challenges it even more and confuses the issue between them all even more which has caused much outrage between the target audiences.

The renovated laundrette too plays a crucial role. It is a place of comfort for Omar and Johnny, kind of like a home they built and decorated. The customers are amused by the beauty of it. A fascinated Nasser dances with his girlfriend while the customers eagerly wait outside. Thus, it becomes a place of comfort for many and it symbolises the Thatcherism era because if you work hard you will be successful.

In conclusion the whole film is very ground breaking and has many different symbolic meanings which are displayed throughout the whole film and possibly it could have contributed to creating more conflict between British and Asian audiences because the features of the film are very easy to replicate in real life during the 1980’s. 

Top 10 films

1. The Lego Movie (Phil Lord and Christopher Miller)

2. Green Street (Lexi Alexander)

3. Goal (Danny Cannon)

4. The Simpsons (David Silverman)

5. Friday the 13th (Sean Cunningham)

6. Toy Story (John Lassester)

7. Titanic (James Cameron)

  8. The Inbetweeners (Ben Palmer)

9. Were The Millers (Rawson Marshall Thurber) 

10. The Lion King (Roger Allers)

IMBD top 10: The Godfather, The Shawshank Redemption, Schindler's list


BFI Top 10: Vertigo, Citizen Kane, Tokyo Story


Empire Top 10: The Godfather, Raiders of the lost Ark, Star Wars Episode V: The Empire Strikes Back

Green street analysis

Green Street Hooligans (2005) Micro analysis:                                    Simon Cheshire

Micro elements which are including in film are a very important they help create many different meanings such as: new ideas, suspense and they also represent an important meaning. The micro features in film include: sound, camera, editing and mise-en-scene. The micro feature of sound includes are the films diegetic and non diegetic. Sound can be essential in portraying characters emotion, feelings, atmosphere it also engages the audience. Furthermore the micro feature of mise-en-scene includes the props, costumes, body positioning and location which the film is shot in. This can help set the feel for the film and generates a lot more realism and suspense around the film. This essay will focus on how sound and mise-en-scene are used to generate meaning and response in a particular scene in the film Green Street (Lexi Alexander, 2005) were the West Ham hooligans are first introduced to the audience and have a confrontation with another football ‘firm’. This juxtaposes with the next scene were Matt Buckner (Elijah Wood) is leaving Harvard University with a envelope full of cash. This scene is an integral part of the film because it introduces the whole feel of the film and engages the target audience straight away with action, swearing and a engaging storyline with a cliff hanger.

The director of Green Street is Lexi Alexander she is a German film director and former world champion in point fighting and Karate. Her work on Green Street helped it win the Audience and Jury award for the first time in South by Southwest history. It was also nominated for the William Shartner Golden Groundhog Award for Best Underground Movie. She has worked on many films such as: Punisher: War Zone (2008), Lifted (2011). She has also has directed an episode for Anthony Zuiker's BlackBoxTVYouTube channel entitled ‘Execution Style’.

First of all the audience see a establishing shot of Bank London Underground Station while they hear the non-diegetic of the famous football chant ‘I’m West Ham till I die’ this is an iconic football chant which the audience will easily recognize and associate with West Ham United football club and the pure anger in the way it is be sung the audience can easily identify that it’s not your average football fan singing, it is the football hooligan, also it signifies to the audience how the football ‘hooligans’ will even be prepared to die to maintain the reputation of West Ham. We hear this before we seem them which represent how they are a group of people.

Next the main characters are first introduced to the audience this shows all of their mise-en-scene such as the clothes they are wearing, Bank London Tube station and they are kicking the can like a football which would appeal to the audience because it shows they are football fans and are just trying to achieve their dreams. The clothes they are wearing are very symbolic, the white trainers, jeans and the high zipped jackets connotate the hooligan idea and the director Lexi Alexander has done this to try to replicate this as they are very stereotypical for a football hooligan.

The first piece of diegetic which the West Ham hooligans say is ‘Fuck me, if I knew I was going to a bar mitzvah I would have brought my skull cap’ this is racist towards a group of opposing football Tottenham fans, this is a historic verbal battle between West ham and Tottenham and is supposed to antagonist them and help ‘Pete’ the main character gain a reaction off them, this is followed by the diegetic of his group of friends laughing in approval to antagonise them even more which they do. In addition to this the constant use of the swear word ‘fuck or fucking’ is very significant because it presents to the audience how he has to swear to be heard and to gain authority over the opposing fans he has to swear. This constant swearing by one main character then turns into the two opposing groups swearing at each other kind of in unison, this turns into a chant which everyone can join in with and signifies that they are ready for battle similar to the way Zulu warriors would before they are ready to fight. This is again highlighted in the non-diegetic of the London Tube banging along the track.

This is then followed by the fight scene outside the station where they use public things to fight each other with. For example they fight with a telephone box, a bin and a street bollard. This has been done by Lexi Alexander to show how they are fighting against society as much as they are fighting against each other. Foley has been used drastically throughout this particular scene to over exaggerate noises such as punches and glass smashing which adds a lot more effect.   

This juxtaposes with a peaceful shot of a river outside Harvard University which has been done to show the audience the contrast in locations, where the audience see a male character clearing his office out, this is where the audience can see the huge different between the costumes which the characters are wearing as ‘Matt’ is wearing a knitted styled jumper which shows that he supposed to be a innocent character who wouldn’t do anything wrong. However it is the same colour as ‘Pete’s’ coat was in the opposing scene which Lexi Alexander has done to show similarities between the two characters however they are different at the same time. 

Next the audience see ‘Matt’s’ roommate on the phone with his back to the television while it plays American football and soccer. This is significant because it shows the huge contrast in the characters because in England the football hooligans would be willing to fight or even die like it is quoted in the song for football however in America they wouldn’t even dream of having a huge care in football let alone be willing to die for it. This represents the huge difference in the two cultures.

When Matt enters the scene an envelope of cash is placed on his belongings while he is packing, this could have huge meaning and significance. For example the envelope of money could be his only way out of his current situation, furthermore for the character who is giving away the money this is his only way of keeping his family name and their big reputation clean, the audience knows this because he uses the diegetic ‘ I have my families reputation to protect’. This again supports the idea of the two contrasting cultures because the American characters are paying to keep their good reputation with the envelope of money, however back in England they are willing to stand and fight for their pride and reputation even if they do ‘die’.

Lastly we see ‘Matt’ using the money out of the envelope to pay for a flight, which again represents how he is buying his way out of trouble using the ‘dirty’ money. This also shows how he is condemning the actions of his old roommate by spending the money and hasn’t got any backbone because he won’t go through with any of his diegetic or actions. This again juxtaposes with the English characters because they aren’t worried about the consequences of standing up for themselves againt’s bigger opponents. For example in the train scene the West ham Hooligans are mocked for their club being in the second division however even though they are a so called smaller club they still stand up for themselves and what they believe in which juxtaposes with ‘Matt’ the American character because he just takes the money and simply walks away.

The mise-en-scene of the money in an envelope is a significant aspect of this clip; it connects very well with many different films. For example in Alfred Hitchcock’s film Psycho (1960) an envelope full of money was again used throughout the film to portray a secret message and this was a theme which continued throughout the film. This shows how significant successful mise-en-scene can be to a film and helps creates question which the audience asks however they may become answered in the future.

In conclusion I feel the micro features which I chose to analyse of sound and mise-en-scene helps create a deep meaning throughout the scene of Lexi Alexanders film Green Street Hooligans (2005). I feel they both help produce specific meaning throughout the clip. For example sound highlights different ideas such as the ‘die’ for football situation, as well as this mise-en-scene also helps creates specific meanings throughout the clip. For example the idea of props and locations creates a huge contrast between the different characters. However the specific colours which the main characters are wearing represent a connection between the two which has meaning which again is displayed to the audience further on in the film.

Independent Institution Research

http://news.sky.com/story/1557024/amy-winehouse-film-used-as-warning-to-teens href="http://www.theguardian.com/film/2015/jun/22/pixar-inside-out-record-jurassic-world-us-box-office?CMP=ema_861">


http://www.theguardian.com/film/2015/jun/29/russia-culture-minister-vladimir-medinsky-tax-on-hollywood-films?CMP=ema_861




http://www.film-news.co.uk/show-news.asp?H=Kerry-Washington:-Opportunities-for-black-women-have-shifted&nItemID=33176



http://www.empireonline.com/news/story.asp?NID=45602


http://moviepilot.com/posts/2015/10/13/disney-pixar-reveals-release-dates-for-finding-dory-toy-story-4-the-good-dinosaur-and-more-3588666?lt_source=external,manual

http://www.theguardian.com/film/2015/oct/21/mary-poppins-new-director-movie-not-remake

http://www.cinemablend.com/new/Movie-Theater-Ticket-Prices-Reach-Record-High-89337.html


http://www.empireonline.com/movies/news/steven-spielberg-says-one-will-replace-harrison-ford-indiana-jones/

My Beautiful Laundrette Research

 It is a 1985 British comedy-drama film directed by Stephen Frears, it is based on the screenplay by Hanif Kureishi, it was one of the first films released and distributed by Working title films. 

Sexuallity and multiculturalism are the key issues which the film challenges. 


It is a film which is set in London and it based around the area which Margaret Thatcher was in power of the government. It shows the relationship between members of the white, asian and black community. 

The story focuses on Omar, a young Pakistani man living in London, and his reunion and eventual romance with his old friend, a street punk named Johnny. The two become the caretakers and business managers of a launderette originally owned by Omar's uncle Peter. The plot addresses several polemical issues of the time, including homosexuality and racism, depicted within the social and economic climate of Thatcherism.  
Much of the Pakistani Hussein family has settled in London, striving for the riches promised by Thatcherism. Nasser and his right hand man, Salim, have a number of small businesses and they do whatever they need to make money, even if the activities are illegal. As such, Nasser and his immediate family live more than a comfortable lifestyle, and he flaunts his riches whenever he can. Meanwhile, his brother, alcoholic Ali, once a famous journalist in Pakistan, lives in a seedy flat with his son, Omar. Ali's life in London is not as lucrative in part because of his left leaning politics, which does not mesh with the ideals of Thatcherism. To help his brother, Nasser gives Omar a job doing menial labor. But Omar, with bigger plans, talks Nasser into letting him manage Nasser's run down laundrette. Omar seizes what he sees as an opportunity to make the laundrette a success, and employs an old friend, Johnny - who has been most recently running around with a gang of white punks - to help

It made a estimate of £650,00 at box office.

My Beautiful Laundrette was Frears' third feature film for the cinema. Originally shot for television, it was first released in cinemas and eventually became his first international success.

The film marked the first time Oliver Slaperton was in charge of cinematpgraphy in one of Frears' projects. He would later become one of the director's most consistent collaborators.

My Beautiful Laundrette was nominated in 1987 for a single Academy Award– Best original screenplay, by Hanif Kureishi. It lost to Woody Allen's Hannah and Her Sisters. Kureishi was also nominated for a 1986 BAFTA award. The screenplay received an award from the American National Society of Film Critics.

The Pakistanis in My Beautiful Laundrette have excelled economically under such social structures, which suggests that Kureishi and Frears are aiming to present a society that appears to have made considerable strides in terms of equality. 

Film review: By Eric Henderson

While Personal Best and Making Love have faded into obscurity as The Celluloid Closetfootnotes, My Beautiful Laundrette has become a benchmark in the '80s new queer cinema. The film's approach to portraying homosexuality is as much grounded in raw, sensual realism as some of the film's other themes are in buoyant fantasy. That those other themes—racism, immigration, and economic Darwinism in Thatcher's England—don't inherently lend themselves to a lighthearted interpretation is an example of how Stephen Frears adapts the worldview of the characters he presents: the devil-may-care Johnny (a star-making performance by Daniel Day-Lewis) and the blissfully culture-straddling Omar (Gordon Warnecke, who makes ideological ambivalence seem like the sexiest attribute of them all). Omar, whose Pakistani family is torn by materialistic extremes (including organized crime) on one side and by radical political Leftist convictions on the other, is given the opportunity by his greasy-palmed uncle Nasser (Saeed Jaffrey) to refurbish a dingy laundromat. Omar views this as the ultimate compromise. Not only will the management position allow him upward economic mobility, but it will also give the lower-class neighborhood a touch of class. Enter street punk Johnny, who not only becomes Omar's business partner but his lover. Though gently pressured by many members of the Pakistani community to get married, Omar and Johnny do very little to conceal their true relationship, which culminates in a tender, erotic scene of the couple making love in the back room of the laundromat while Nasser and his mistress dance out front. Throughout, Frears's lens is ever the explorer, with flamboyant crane shots caressing every corner of every scene. My Beautiful Laundrette is still fresh and remains a model case for creating moving, liberating cinema from an oppressive environment. It's every bit the landmark gay film it deserves to be.