Baltic Cinema: My Beautiful Laundrette

Chitra Ganesh presents one of her favourite films, Stephen Frears and Hanif Kureishi's Oscar-nominated critique of Margaret Thatcher’s Britain — a love letter to tolerance and the virtues of multiculturalism. About My Beautiful Laundrette (15) Saturday 7 November | 15:00 £6/£4.50* per person Stephen Frears UK 1985 98mins 35mm transferred to digital video | In English ‘A sharp, smart picture, with English eccentricity, sly quirk and political subversion, that represents a brilliant and almost unique engagement with contemporary history in 80s British cinema: a satire of Mrs Thatcher’s Britain which involved playing Toryism at its own game.’ —Peter Bradshaw, The Guardian ★★★★★ Set in London's Pakistani community at a time of heightened racial tensions and homophobia, My Beautiful Laundrette follows the fortunes of handsome young Omar who, together with his English friend Johnny, takes over a run-down laundrette given to him by his rich uncle. Together they transform it into a gaudy, neon-lit palace complete with muzak and video screens. Against a background of racism and poverty in the rough London suburb, their own relationship, portrayed with tenderness and passion, blossoms to love. Read more Toggle Film / Video