Yasmin - Part 5/9

'Yasmin' - a compelling and topical personal drama of what it means to be Asian, Muslim and British in the 21st century, told from the viewpoint of a Westernised woman working in Britain while living in her own traditional culture.

Written by Simon Beaufoy (highly acclaimed writer of The Full Monty), the script was developed out of months of research and workshops with the Muslim community in the North of England, resulting in an emotionally resonant story, which comes directly out of the community's experiences.

Set in a Northern mill town, against a backdrop of poverty, high unemployment and racism, Yasmin's story deals with universal themes such as guilt, transgression and the search for identity.

Having rebelled against her Pakistani culture as a teenager, Yasmin agrees to marry a cousin 'from home' to please her widowed father. The omens are not good when the goatherder from a Pakistani village meets the sparky, Westernised Yasmin.

But her confidence begins to evaporate after 9/11, when Yasmin becomes increasingly ostracised at work. After a total crisis of identity, the internment of Yasmin's husband triggers a new determination and a sense of purpose. Yasmin fights vigorously for his release from a holding centre - and through her campaign is forced to re-evaluate her faith, her culture, and her relationships.

Despite the serious themes underpinning the story, 'Yasmin' is full of Northern wit, irony and juxtapositions. Much of the humour, as well as the harsh realities of the story, has arisen from the workshops with Muslim actors (both professional and non-professional) and members of the community. The director (Kenny Glenaan) has a track record of making award-winning drama working with inexperienced actors, and the film, which was shot in Yorkshire in October 2003, will include a mixture of professional actors and total newcomers.

The film was financed by Scottish Screen, Channel Four, Screen Yorkshire and EuroArts and will be released cinematically in 2004. It was crewed by experienced film makers and trainees from the local community. The producer (Sally Hibbin) has been responsible for dozens of highly acclaimed films such as 'Ladybird, Ladybird' and 'Raining Stones'.

Category:

Film & Animation

Tags:

• Muslim
• September
• 11th
• Westernised
• Islam
• Archie
• Panjabi
• Yorkshire
• England
• UK
• BNP
• Islamophobia
• Nick
• Griffin
• Film

[SouzanAlAlmaniye]

the father is wiser... but if i was there i would be like the son... really angry!

[harisraja786]

fuk police

[74stigma]

all this anti terror nonsense is a complete set up, britain is now like soviet russia

[tommysamui]

no need to be sorry

[ajaypalsinghg]

@alik018 yes why did u even said that , u live there england is like now a mother land it provides u that things which was not posible in your origional home land.. respect to U.k.

[drmgrl11]

@alik018 why r u saying that what is wrong with u?

[TheRocknRollZebra]

nasser is fittt ;)

[alik018]

insallah pakizz will beat da british 1 day

[NAzTRAdamUS]

@NaughtyBwoi

Then why don't you get sick when you sit on a toilet? You're not licking the bowl. You're not vomiting because of germs, you're vomiting from toxicity in your body. Vomiting in a toilet is the most efficient way of getting rid of the mess after, otherwise solids in your stomach will just overwhelm the drain in the sink. I do however cannot figure out why people have to hug the toilet, and put their head in it, and fall asleep in it. That's fuckin disgusting.

[LeRebelNoir]

It seems that you always have to decide which side you're on. Yasmin has to be Moslem or Western, why cant she just be herself? Because sociey is so immature that all people (both Pakistani and Whites) see things in terms of sides istead of individuals.. An antiquated way of thinking. Britain believes it is part of the first world, but the reality is, it is full of narrow-minded bigoted fools with archiac thinking.  What happened to the eccentric individual? He / she had to choose a side.