'WHY DOES nobody like laundrettes? Because they're like toilets, says Omar, the young Pakistani on whom this film is centred. And anyone who's ever spent one and a half hours watching their socks go round will know what he means.
Reviewed by Rachael Gomme Omar takes over his uncle's bagwash and sets out to create his 'ritz of laundrettes. With the help
of his white lover Johnny.
story in film which Issues around the life of a well-off middle class Pakistani family in racist Britain and their responses to it.
leading socialist journalist spends his days in bed with a bor Uncle vasse is a wealthy business man apparent head of the family, although Salin the ruthless heroin smuggling gangster holds the: real bowel. The family sees Omar's association with Johnny, who he hires to work in the typically British'. It is the relationbetween these two Sillp which the film's strongest point.
Johnny's involvement with a gang of fascists ha DCLWeCI hem, angered and hurt But as tallic when they meet up they become close again. relationship handled wit sensitivity, suggesting the strength of feeling between them but never over-emphasising it smoothing over their differences The film is all too rare in its Terresning honest and positive portrayal of gay relationship. This is se against the ever-present backdrop of racism, mainly represented by Johnny's gang of young thugs Here Nasser Salin's attitudes come into contle with their ETperience: for all their and power within moic the community. they
not proof against the gang's racist attacks. Once again this issue not crossed over omar auc Johnny's relationship. johnny's attitude his white friends is ambivalent to the end.
The wornen in the film remain in the background they are amorine yee they among strongest characters. Their relationships to a certain extent parallel those DCIween Omar and his family, as similar conflicts played out.
My Beautiful Laundrette isn't film which looks for solutions. But it does observe people, situarelationships with outstanding clarity and humour. It is witty, perceptive, subtle, ironic; it pulls no punches and idealises nobody. It Is serious, but great entertainment. mainstream fim with such It's a positive image of gays.
arouna at the moment). See it if only for a vision of what your local laundrette should be like.
My Beautiful Laundrelle, directed by Stephen Frears, stars Danie Dey-Lewis.
Shirts Ann Field, and Rita Wolf. It is carrently on release throughout Sorril.