and spontaneous when they say their lines.‘
Yaquib enjoyed the process too. although there was one time he felt that the world was crashing in on his shoulders. ‘One of the sequences in the lilm is shot in Spain. The first day was very smooth and we shot a lot of passionate scenes. but at the end ol' the day. Ken told me. “You know you have to tell her about the arranged marriage?" I said. "no". He said. "it has to be done." Then he gave me this thick envelope with the new script in. l was up all night learning the lines for a scene I didn‘t want to do.‘
In keeping with the theme ot~ the film (which explores the Asian Muslim tradition of arranged marriages. and the inter-generational traumas that can result). both leads have had sleepless nights about their respective mothers watching the lilm for the first time at the Edinburgh Film Festival. ‘My sister went to see a screening. and said. “It's really good. but what about Mum and Dad?" So she really freaked me out. and I thought luck. maybe they shouldn’t go.. says Binhistle. ‘l‘ve tried to want my mother as much as possible without having to say the words “and he goes down on me in one scene" ~ because I don‘t want to have that conversation with her.‘ lichoing Birthistle‘s sentiments. Yaquib says: ‘l‘m worried about my mum seeing it. Some of the scenes are very intimate.‘
This is the third film in Loach's trilogy of films that he announced he'd be making around Glasgow (My Name is Joe and Sweet Sixteen being the others). Yaquib is most pleased that
somebody is finally making a story that reflects the existence ol'
Asians in Glasgow: ‘There has been no positive portrayal of Asians from Glasgow. There is always some sort of corruption attached to it.
‘ASIANS DON'T TALK ABOUT BUSH AND BLAIR BEING CHRISTIAN TERRORIST S, THOUGH OF COURSE THEY ARE'
When I was growing up. there was nothing for us to look tip to in a positive way.
There has been no profile of us lot.‘
Yaquib hopes that this film will not just make people question lslamophobia btit take a look at the ethnic minority communities of Glasgow with new eyes. '.\laybe this will bring attention to it. There are a lot of Asians doing good things and they should be encouraged and promoted. There needs to be more involvement of the media to
promote what is really happening in Glasgow.‘
UGC, 623 8030, Sun 22 Aug, 7pm and Fri 27 Aug, 10.30pm. GFT 1, 623
8030, Mon 23 Aug, 8pm.
Tom Dawson talks to KEN LOACH about why he set his film in Glasgow.
I Taking its title from a Robert Burns poem. Keri Loach's affecting and cautiously optimistic Ae Fond Kiss is a contemporary love story about a Glaswegian-Pakistani DJ Cassini iAtta Yagubi and an Irish-Catholic music teacher Reisin iEva Birthistlel. which raises Wider tiuestmns about cultural identity and religious iinitolerance. l-oliowuig on from My Name is Joe and Sweet Sixteen, it's the third in a trilogy of West of Scotland films maoe by Loach and the writer Paul Laverly. Which are all set in and around Glasgow. What. I ask, keeps drawuig the director back to this Scottish city? 'I think Glasgow has many characteristics that make it a good place to work.“ explains the softly spoken filmmaker. ‘lt's a City built on struggle. Traditionally it had industries that were tough to work in and il had wave after wave of immigrants. )articularly Irish people. The humour is specmc and sharp. and because it has known rough times that's given its people strength and toughness. It's also very beautiful to film even though it might not strike yoti as that: its architecture is veny strong and it's in a landscape that‘s very impressive' The inspiration for Ae Fond Kiss lay in the experiences of the Asian community in Glasgow following the 9/1 t attacks. ‘Paul [Laverty] had Glaswegian friends wnos families were originally from Pakistan who suddenly felt very vulnerable,‘ explains Lcac‘n. ‘We wanted to tell a story from their perspectve. It's interesting how the words "Muslim", "extremis s" and "terrorists" tend to become interchangeable. They don't talk ab0ut Bush and Blair being Christian extrerriists or Christian terrorists, though of course they are.‘
And Ae Fond Kiss also COnsiders a perennial Loach theme. namely now families can simultaneously nurture and oppress their children, with the director showrng the reasons behind the attitudes and actions of Cassim‘s parents in planning his arranged marriage. ‘It you're a famin of first generation immigrants. the idea of marrying outside your ethnic group can be guite threatening. People did suffer racism and still do. When you're attacked racially, you stick close to those you know you can trust. That's natural.’
I UGC, 623 8030, 23 Aug, 3pm, £70.45 (£7. 70). Script Factory: Paul Laverty, UGC, 27 Aug, 5pm. Ae Fond Kiss, UGC. 623 8030. 22 Aug. 7pm and 27 Aug, 70.30pm. GFI' 7, 623 8030, 23 Aug, 8pm.
~'- THE LIST FESTIVAL MAGAZINE 47