If there is anything more annoying than having a catchy tune constantly running through one's head, it is hearing such a tune and not having any idea whatsoever what it is or why one knows it. Recently there was a TV series called 'British Film Forever' and there was one clip from the above movie; the minute I heard the snippet of melody behind the scene, I thought "Oh yes!", but didn't know why. After plaguing me for weeks, the only answer was to watch the movie again. To put my mind at rest and to preserve my own sanity, I shall record here that the tune was "The Banner Man" by Blue Mink which forms the background music to the opening titles and very funny first scene. However I still don't know why I recognized it.
Actually it was no chore watching this movie again. Set in the north of England in the early seventies, it is the story of a Pakistani immigrant (Om Puri) who has married an Englishwoman (Linda Bassett) -- although it is implied that he already has a wife back home -- and has seven children. While Puri wants to indoctrinate his family in traditional ways, the kids are sufficiently westernized to want to make their own way of life and their mother just wants them to be happy. The eldest son is already persona non grata by walking out at his arranged marriage (it turns out he is gay) and the next two sons want nothing to do with meeting their 'chosen brides' (and very ugly they were too); as Jimi Mistry says, "I ain't marrying a Paki". In frustration Puri uses his fists against his wife and most obedient son who is protecting his brother, until an uneasy truce is reached. If this makes the movie sound grim, it really isn't. What we have mainly are various scenes of the family's inbuilt culture clash -- some of which are wickedly funny -- and a probably fairly realistic look at a whole new generation.
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