1. FM2: British Film Topics Thatcher’s Britain
My Beautiful Laundrette (1985), Stephen Frears, Channel Four Films/Working
Title, UK
Omar
Unemployed; Living with his Father; looking forward
to college; intelligent (organises his uncles’ accounts
for his garage); does not speak Urdu very well
“Doesn’t he understand his own language?” (Aunt to
Nassar)
After he is given the laundrette:
“I want everything done now. That’s the only attitude if you want to achieve
big!” (to Johnny)
Demands £50 for his second job for Salim; recognises crime as a possible
way to succeed and prove his worth
Johnny
Has left home; no job or fixed address.; Johnny and his gang are squatting in
houses. They are evicted by the owners who are black and Asian, one of
whom is Nassar (Omar’s Uncle).
“I don’t get on with my mum and dad”
National Front member/racist; was a school friend of Omar’s. They drifted
about through social and racial division; becomes involved in a gay
relationship with Omar.
Johnny begins to regret his racist past and re-evaluates his position in society.
(Johnny to his National Front friends): “I want to do some work for a change.”
To Omar “You’re getting greedy.”
Papa
Socialist; dislike of Thatcher’s politics; heavy drinker; sends Omar to work with
Nassar (his brother) in his garage
“He’s on the dole like everyone else in England!”
“The working class is such a disappointment to me.”
“We must have knowledge if we are to see who is doing what to this country!”
Uncle Nassar
Rich; Westernised; successful businessman; having an affair with a white
woman
(Uncle Salim to Nassar) “…you’re too busy keeping this country in the black.”
“You won’t be in the dole queue. Mrs Thatcher will be happy with me!” (about
Omar)
“In this country which we hate and love you can get anything you want.” (to
Omar).
Omar: “I don’t want to sweep up!”
Nassar: “What are you, the Labour party?
“We’ll drink to Thatcher and our beautiful laundrette!”
“I’m a professional businessman, not a traditional Pakistani. There’s no room
for race in the entrepreneurial culture!”

2. FM2: British Film Topics Thatcher’s Britain
Omar’s Aunt
Proud of her Pakistani roots; does not think of England as her home.
“I’m sick of these in-betweeners. People should make up their mind of what
they are!” (To Omar after discussing their visit to Karachi, Pakistan, which
they regard as ‘home’).
Salim
Huge house; art collection; expensive/luxury goods- stereo/tv etc.; involved in
drug trafficking (cocaine)
“This laundrette is a dead duck!” (to Omar)
Suggests that Omar should resort to crime to make himself successful
(About Omar’s socialist father): “We are nothing in this country without
money!”
Violent and vengeful: “What this scum needs is a taste of their own piss!” (To
National Front gang as he attempts to knock them down in his car)
Tanya
“I don’t like women who live off men. It’s parasitical!”
Young, attractive, sexually active
Scene Analysis: In Nassar’s bedroom with his ’business associates’
• From this scene, what do learn about life in Britain in the context
of private business and enterprise in the 1980’s?
Scene analysis: Johnny is introduced to Nassar and family as Nassar’s
house; Omar (to Nassar about Johnny): “He’s lower class. He won’t come in
unless he doing a burglary!”; Johnny is hired by Nassar as ‘muscle’ to evict
tenants and squatters from the houses he owns
• What is the power relationship here between Nassar, Omar and
Johnny? What does this tell us about power relationships in
terms of class, wealth and ethnicity?

3. FM2: British Film Topics Thatcher’s Britain
Scene in the Laundrette: opening day
Omar and Johnny kiss and embrace in the back room; Nassar and his white
mistress dance on the shop floor
• To what extent might the events in this scene be seen as
representative of a complete breakdown in traditional
conservative values?
Falling apart…
Uncle Nassar: Affair ends after his mistress leaves him following a row with
his daughter
Aunt: (Nassar’s wife): Wants to go back to Pakistan
Salim: Wants money from Omar for taking some of his cocaine and selling it
himself.
Johnny and Omar: they resort to stealing from Omar’s family to get the
money.
• Why do you think it was important for the film makers to
emphasise this complete breakdown in Omar’s social and
economic relationships?
Scene analysis: Nassar and his Brother (Omar’s Father) have a tearful
reconciliation.
Papa to Nassar: “This damn country has done us both in!”
(Nassar to Papa about Pakistan): “That country has been sodomised by
religion!”
• What parallels can you draw between Papa and Nassar, and the
political divide in 1980’s Britain?
The Laundrette
• A representation of Britain in the 1980’s? Discuss this point.