LOVE + HATE
UK, 2004, 83 minutes, Colour.
Samina Awan, Tom Hudson, Nichola Burley, Wasim Zakir, Dean Andrews, Peter O’ Connor.
Directed by Dominic Savage.
Love + Hate was written and directed by Dominic Savage. It is a BBC Films production. Savage has made quite a number of documentaries as well as music videos. His main work prior to this film was for television and this is clearly seen in the style of Love + Hate.
The film, produced in 2004, is completely relevant to events in the United Kingdom in 2005. It highlights racial tension in the north of England where the British National Party has a number of members in local administration. It also provides some background to the kind of interracial hatred and clashes with Muslim cultures in English cities. This was to culminate in the Underground and bus bombings in July 2005. (Another film which gives almost prophetic background to the kinds of clashes, to the indoctrination of young Muslims that leads them to be terrorists is given in Red Mercury. Kenny Lagaan’s Yasmin is another powerful story on this subject.)
The setting is Preston in Lancashire. The film takes advantage of local photography, giving an authentic atmosphere of life in the town. The centre of attention, besides the homes of a Pakistani British family as well as a traditional English family, is a shop where representatives of each family work. Tensions are already seen in the shop where a young assistant, Adam, is hostile to the new recruit for the shop, Naseema.
The complication is that Adam is really attracted to Naseema, she to him. Meanwhile, Michelle, who has made her welcome and who is clashing at home with her father, is having a relationship unbeknown to Naseema, with Naseema’s brother. However, the brother has double standards, carries on his affair in secret but is extremely condemnatory when he finds out about Naseema herself.
The film highlights the double standards, the implicit racial attitudes. This is especially seen in the group of young white racists in the town, their acts of violence, ultimately the bashing of Naseema’s brother. Ironically, the screenplay has the brother working with Michelle’s father.
In a short running time, the film is able to recreate the atmosphere in Preston, give insights into the life and styles of a sincere Pakistani family, the pressures on the young women, the double standards of the men. It also highlights the need for breakthrough in understanding these tensions (which, ultimately, can lead to the kind of violence that was seen in the bombings). Love has to overcome the hate.
1. A BBC production, small budget, local, in the town of Blackburn? The impact for UK audiences, at the beginning of the 21st century? Worldwide audiences?
2. The Blackburn settings, the neighbourhood, the shops, the bars, public places, carparks, factories, shops? Authentic?
3. The UK, the British National Party, the inherent racism, Britain for the Britons? The antagonism towards Asian migrants, towards British Asians? The slogans, the presuppositions, the attitude towards sex, the protectiveness of Asian men for their women?
4. The Pakistanis in England, the British Pakistanis, their traditions, the religion, Muslim culture? The narrow attitudes, prejudices, sexuality, men and women? Permissiveness for men?
5. The antagonism between the two groups, the British and their sense of ownership, dominance, exclusion of others? The love and hate in each of the characters, the need for some kind of resolution – a future for the UK from love versus hate?
6. Naseema, in the context of her family, getting ready to go to work on her first day? Peter and his kindliness in introducing her to the shop? Adam and his surliness, Michelle and her friendship? Adam and his prejudice? Michelle and Naseema talking, the building of a friendship? Her continually going to Adam? His change, the kiss, going out, the secret, his running away? Her puzzle, being reconciled? The clash and the bashing, her grief for her father? His being accused? Her relenting? The action of the family, Yousif, her plan? Her discussions with her older sister, whether to go or not, the decision to leave, meeting Adam on the station, the train and a future?
7. Adam, working in the shop, taciturn, Peter and his condemnation of his racist attitudes? His discussions with his brother, his mother? Their bigotry? Laughing at the injury done to Pakistanis? With the group of young men, their talk, their ousting Shane? Adam later going to Shane for advice and support? The continued attention to Naseema, his shock at finding he was attracted? Going out, the kiss, running away, his coming back? The bashing and his not wanting to be involved, Yousif and the Pakistanis chasing him? The phone calls to Naseema? Peter and his advice? His knowing that he loved Naseema? Getting Shane to go with him, the reconciliation, the railway station – and a future?
8. Michelle at work at work, at home, the clashes with her father, the irony of his working with Yousif and his comments to Yousif about race? Her going out, her girlfriends, being picked up by Yousif? A sexual liaison? The arguments with her father, her growing infatuation with Yousif, finally telling Naseema? Wanting advice, the truth? Yousif and his blunt breaking with her, her being hurt? Her father and his bashing of Yousif?
9. Yousif, at work, with Michelle’s father, the discussions? Out on the town, picking up white girls, the sexual relationship, the continued meetings, his growing confusion, his strictness with Naseema, the group going with baseball bats to avenge their father’s bashing? The discussions with Naseema, his being bashed after breaking with Michelle?
10. Naseema, the family, her father and his taxi driving, her mother and the cooking, a welcome household, her older sister? The surly brother? Her leaving this? The traditions, religion?
11. Peter, the shop, his understanding, rebuking Adam, helping Naseema, finally giving Adam advice?
12. The background of Blackburn, the rise of racist politicians in that part of the UK in the early 21st century? Reflecting attitudes, prejudices? The humiliation of the Asians – even after decades in the UK? The blend of love and hate – and hope for some kind of reconciliation for the future?
