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“Bhaji on the Beach” Director: Gurinder Chadha Film on Four BBC Study-Guide Project: Critical Viewing of British Films i

“Bhaji on the Beach” Director: Gurinder Chadha Film on Four BBC Study-Guide Project: Critical Viewing of British Films in a Variety of Cultural Contexts. Supported by ELTeCS (British Council) in 2004. . In this study-guide you will learn the symbolic meaning of “bhaji”

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“Bhaji on the Beach” Director: Gurinder Chadha Film on Four BBC Study-Guide Project: Critical Viewing of British Films i

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  1. “Bhaji on the Beach” Director: Gurinder Chadha Film on Four BBC Study-Guide Project: Critical Viewing of British Films in a Variety of Cultural Contexts. Supported by ELTeCS (British Council) in 2004. Millroodm R. Bhaji on the Beach. Study-guide. Project supported by ELTeCS (Britishj Council)

  2. In this study-guide you will • learn the symbolic meaning of “bhaji” • understand how Indian and British culture co-exist in the UK • get an insight into what makes women happy and not so across cultures • look into the generation gap existing between the film characters • think of what makes all teenagers in the world similar Millroodm R. Bhaji on the Beach. Study-guide. Project supported by ELTeCS (Britishj Council)

  3. Pre-viewing. 1.1. Read the summary of the film plot and answer the questions that follow: “Three generations of Indian women take a day trip by bus to Blackpool - a British sea resort town. Among these women are Asha, a young woman who is in conflict between her traditional Indian upbringing and modern British life, Ginder who is an abused and battered wife who has left her husband, Hashida who is a student and has just learned that she is pregnant by her black boyfriend, Pushpa and Bina - older traditional women dressed in sari, Ladhu and Madhu - two teenage girls. After a day together the women return home with a better understanding of each other” Millroodm R. Bhaji on the Beach. Study-guide. Project supported by ELTeCS (Britishj Council)

  4. 1.1. Questions: 1. What do you think is the reality that each of the women try to escape from by taking a trip to Blackpool? Draw parallels with your own culture. 2. What is meant by “traditional Indian upbringing”? What will the “traditional upbringing” mean for girls in your home culture? 3. How will a young unmarried woman who has just found that she is pregnant feel and behave? Will there be a cultural difference between young women living across the globe? 4. How will old grannies react to male strippers in a women-only club? 5. Why, do you think, a phrase “dressed in sari” is important to describe cultural traditions of women? What is the role of national costumes in your own culture? Millroodm R. Bhaji on the Beach. Study-guide. Project supported by ELTeCS (Britishj Council)

  5. 1.2. Read the following definition of “bhaji” and answer questions that follow: “Bhaji is an Indian snack food consisting of vegetables mixed with bread and spices”. 1. Why has “bhaji” been included in the film title? What does it symbolise? 2. Why is “bhaji” used in this film as a metaphor to describe everyday life of Indian women? 3. Why is “bhaji on the beach” used in this film as a metaphor to describe an ethnic conflict between Indian women and a lady who owns a sandwich bar on the sea coast. 4. How, do you think, “bhaji” can be “Westernised”? 5. What national dishes can be used as symbols of different cultures? What associations do these dishes evoke on mind? Millroodm R. Bhaji on the Beach. Study-guide. Project supported by ELTeCS (Britishj Council)

  6. While-viewing 2.1. Indicate the film frames that illustrate the similarity of situations among teenagers of all cultures. Complete the grid below: Millroodm R. Bhaji on the Beach. Study-guide. Project supported by ELTeCS (Britishj Council)

  7. 2.2. Indicate the film frames that illustrate a cultural clash between people in their middle ages. Complete the grid below: Millroodm R. Bhaji on the Beach. Study-guide. Project supported by ELTeCS (Britishj Council)

  8. 2.3. What kind of clashes make the situation tense in this film episode “At the cafeteria”? Indicate an episode and give your comments. A/ Past and present of Blackpool, B/ British and Indian food, C/ Selling food “for here” or “to go” Millroodm R. Bhaji on the Beach. Study-guide. Project supported by ELTeCS (Britishj Council)

  9. 2.4. Indicate the film frames that illustrate a cultural clash between people with conservative and liberated view on family life. Complete the grid below: Millroodm R. Bhaji on the Beach. Study-guide. Project supported by ELTeCS (Britishj Council)

  10. 3. Post-viewing 3.1. Match the following film-characters and their characteristics: 1.Asha A. Concerned with boys. 2. Ginder B. Has visions and hears voices. 3. Ranjit C. An abused wife. 4. Hashida D. Is feeling remorse. 5. Oliver E. The oldest in the company 6. Pushpa F. Fond of bhaji 7. Bina G. A five-year old child 8. Amrik H. Fails to re-unite the family 9. Ladhu and Madhu I. “Prodigal daughter” Millroodm R. Bhaji on the Beach. Study-guide. Project supported by ELTeCS (Britishj Council)

  11. 3.2. Supply film episodes to substantiate the following quotations from film-reviews on “Bhaji on the Beach”. A.”Hashida’s entire future is thrown in turmoil”. B. “This geriatric lady refuses to accept anything that threatens her strict, conservative views of morality”. C. “The final fifteen minutes are an overload of melodrama and shocking display of violence”. D. “These women struggle a double yoke of racism and sexism”. E. “These girls are on a prowl for a seaside romance”. F. “In the old days, before the Asians came to England and improved the English diet, Blackpool had been a white holiday spot”. G. “The film contrasts Asian values with the English ones”. Millroodm R. Bhaji on the Beach. Study-guide. Project supported by ELTeCS (Britishj Council)

  12. 3.3. Who said this in the film, when and why? A. “She was too dark. You can’t trust the dark ones”. B. “I’ve forgotten how to tell the truth”. C. “It is not often that we women get away from patriarchal demands made on us in our daily lives”. D. “It’s the woman who makes the family”. E. “You are not like the other girls, I am telling you”. F. “No shame …” G. “It’s Daddy … My son …Baby boy …” H. “You can help me change!” Millroodm R. Bhaji on the Beach. Study-guide. Project supported by ELTeCS (Britishj Council)

  13. 3.4. Write a film review by following the guidelines: Film director and cast ___________________________________ _____________________________________________________ Brief film summary _____________________________________ _____________________________________________________ Ideas on the positive side ________________________________ _____________________________________________________ Word of critique _______________________________________ _____________________________________________________ How the central issue was addressed _______________________ Conclusive remarks ____________________________________ Millroodm R. Bhaji on the Beach. Study-guide. Project supported by ELTeCS (Britishj Council)

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