Ae fond Kiss camera and editing analysis! By San Dhinsa

(Film Director- Ken Loach)

About about the film...In Glasgow, Scotland, the Pakistani parents of Casim Khan have decided that he is going to marry his cousin Jasmine. Unfortunately, Casim has just fallen in love with his younger sister's music teacher Roisin. Not only is she 'goree', a white woman, she is also Irish and catholic, things that may not go down well with Casim's parents. They start a relationship but Casim is torn between following his heart and being a good son.

How does it fit the British Social Realism genre?

This film is themed around a typical Muslim familyin England, however, this film is relatable for any familyof any religion as it based on following your heart or doing what your Parents want, thus following the criteriaof a struggle which is often seen in BSR films. The film alsodeals with controversial topics such as racism, prejudice and religion which is something that is seen today in Britain.

Clip I used to refer to

Editing Analysis

In this screen grab we can denote a dirty lamppost, and oldbuildings, which infront,has two school girls. This connotes

to the audience that this area is middle class. This is suggested through the fact there are just regular school girls hanging out, there is nothing to show that this area is poverty

stricken, just like there is nothing showing that this area is for the rich. It is bare and simple. This long shot has been used to represent the suburban feel of Glasgow in this location. The

characters are represented to be from a white community as both girls are white, suggesting there could potentially be a theme of racism or inequality.

Editing Analysis

Start 14;50 Finish 15;27

From 14;50 we denote two young children playing outside Roison’s apartment.We thendenote Casim walking out of her apartment towards his car as he often looks back up tothe apartment window. This connotes that as Casim leaves and tries to move on, hence getting back into his car, he can’t help but keep looking back. This determines our view that Casimis beginning to fall for her and is hinting at how ever much he tries to get away, he will always bedrawn back to her. This is exemplifying the theme of romance and love as well as probablyescape. The theme of love and romance is shown from his interest towards her and theescape theme is shown through him trying to get away in his car which suggests their romancecould have some problems. The location is seen as bright with natural lighting and we hear birds tweeting which is connoting how this side of the city, or you could say around Roison in general, is happy andtranquil. It is also representing how this city in Glasgow is yet again, middle class and shows no signof extreme poverty or wealth. This short scene has been edited to further show the romance blossomingbetween the two. The only sounds we hear are the birds tweeting and Roison playing the piano in herapartment. The sound is connoting how the classical and romantic piano playing is centered around Roisonand he is drawn to that as we see him look up to her apartment window once more beforegetting into the car.

Editing Analysis

17;45 18;08

At 17;45 we denote a male talking to three younger girls. This is showing Casim telling his sister,Tahara, to leave before she gets into further trouble. He criticizes the way she is scantily dressed and how he is working here and she should be at home. We then cut to their parents who are at home,oblivious to Tahara’s antics which also shows how they are also oblivious to Casim falling for a Caucasian woman. Casim’s comment about Tahara’s dressing is contrasted when we cutto their Father wearing a posh suit which adds an element of humour. The cut between the two scenes hereestablishes the characters to be from a strict Muslim family which is highlighting the theme of religion. We also begin to view as Tahara’s character to be rebellious as she isn’t behaving like her parents expect, just like Casim is interested in a woman who is not Muslim which represents a theme of rebellion as the siblings are both disobeying their parents. This sets up personal identity for anyone of the Asian race as well as anyone who has hadsome sort of rebellion against their parents. This also acts as a way to educate the audience on what it is like living in a Pakistani household.

Camera Analysis

From this screengrab,we can denote three men carrying a grand pianoin their hands whilst a female is looking down. This high-angle shotreally connotes the struggle that Casim endures. From this perspective, we see Roisonwatching the men as an outsider, which reflects how she is an outsider towards Casim’sfamily also.We denote the men are grouped together and she is out of focus whichconnotes how she is oblivious to Casim’s future struggle,especiallly as he is the oneCarrying the weight (the piano) and she watches, which is foreshadowing how Casimstruggles with his religion and family’s prejudice against her.

Camera Analysis

From 10;26 to 10;36 , the camera is following the car in the point of viewthat we are present on scene. The camera is focused from the moment the carpulls out from the side road to it joins the other cars on the main road.This breaks up the series of mid shots and long shots we had originally from the latestconversation so it pulls the audiences interest back in as there is a change of scenery. I willalso use something like a track to split away still shots to show more movement. This trackin particular shows the location with lots of busy cars and shops which connotes how bigGlasgow is.

Start 10;26Finish 10;36

Camera Analysis

At 18;55 we denote three people looking through a window. They are looking through thecurtains without seeming conspicuous as if they are waiting for something. This behind the shoulder shot is connoting how this family are holding prejudice against the young male whohas yet to enter. This scene is showing how they judge him in a positive way before knowing him which sets this family to be ignorant. This reflects on how Roison will be seen in a negativeway because she is not from the same race. The characters are seen as judgmental andpotentially racist as they are so easy to think highly of the young man before they get to knowhim just because he fits the criteria of husband material with his looks and religion. We alsobegin to see the characters to be from a Pakistani descent as the mise-en-scene such as the Asian outfits are representing them as Muslim.

Review of the BSR filmIn "A Fond Kiss," Loach and screenwriter Paul Laverty tackle the age-old conflict of star-crossed lovers. In this case, it's Casim Khan (Atta Yaqub), a second-generation Pakistani immigrant, and Irishwoman Roisin Hanlon (Eva Birthistle) in Glasgow, Scotland. Casim's a DJ with lofty plans to open his own club; Roisin's a music teacher at the Catholic school attended by Casim's sister, Tahara (Shabana Bakhsh). As expected, Casim's family made plans for him to marry a cousin. And he's caught between obligations to his family and his love for Roisin.

Yaqub wasn't a professional actor when Loach cast him. So Yaqub brings certain rawness to his role that's very welcome. But that also exposes his shortcomings.

There's also a superb cameo from Gerard Kelly as a sanctimonious priest.

We rarely get to see films such as "A Fond Kiss" in the U.S. Films that bravely tackle social issues, expose our prejudices and force us to think and understand other people and cultures.