Scotland At The Movies

04 June 2009, 14:02

Ae Fond Kiss (also known as Just a Kiss) is a 2004 romantic drama film directed by Ken Loach, and starring Atta Yaqub and Eva Birthistle. The title is borrowed from a Scottish poem by Robert Burns, the complete line being "Ae fond kiss, and then we'll sever..."

What’s it all about?

Casim Khan (Yaqub) is a Glaswegian DJ of Pakistani origin. His devout Muslim parents, Tariq and Sadia, have arranged for him to marry his first cousin, Jasmine, and Casim is happy with the arrangement. Casim then meets and falls in love with Roisin (Birthistle), an Irish teacher working in a Catholic school. They then have to decide whether their love is strong enough to endure the repercussions of their actions and without the support of their respective communities. At the same time, Casim's younger sister, Tahara, struggles to find herself when she cannot gain the respect of either her Scottish schoolmates or her Pakistani relatives. Rukhsana, Casim's older sister, loses her fiancé because Casim's relationship brings dishonour to the family.

The film's central role is the theme of prejudice and cultural clashes, social differences and discrimination.

As with nearly all of Ken Loach's work, it centres around a society, how it functions and lives up to people, their differences and what they have in common.

Cast

Atta Yaqub: Casim Khan
Eva Birthistle: Roisin Hanlon
Ahmad Riaz: Tariq Khan
Shamshad Akhtar: Sadia Khan
David McKay: Wee Roddie
Raymond Mearns: Big Roddie
Emma Friel: Annie
Karen Fraser: Elsie
John Yule: Headmaster
Ruth McGhie: Mary Nolan

Trivia

Ae Fond Kiss was filmed in Pollokshields, a district in the South Side of Glasgow.

Contrary to what he states, the sweet dish Casim serves Roisin is 'Ras Gulla', not 'Gulab Jabun'.

When's it on?

Ae Fond Kiss is on STV on Monday, June 8 at 22.35pm.

Last updated: 05 June 2009, 16:12