West is West

Saturday 22nd June 2013

Director: Andy De Emmony
Year: 2010
Stars: Aqib Khan, Om Puri, Linda Bassett

Having really enjoyed East is East, I quite liked the thought of watching the follow-up movie, but had little idea of what to expect. When the film began, we were stuck back in grimy Salford, and it really wasn't the sort of movie I was in the mood for.

So when we got transported to Pakistan 15 minutes later, and spent the rest of the film bathed in washed out sunshine, my mood (and willingness to enjoy the movie) improved drastically. West is West follows Sajid Khan, a young boy whose father takes him to Pakistan to teach him where his family comes from. There he meets his father's first wife and daughters, and is reunited with his older brother. He also learns that the positive light his father painted his Pakistani family, and life, in isn't necessarily quite as good as he'd been told.

There's nothing wrong with West is West, but neither is it a particularly memorable movie. It's a perfectly enjoyable Sunday afternoon treat, but I'm surprised I can remember it as well as I can even just a month later.

Rating: 3 out of 5