This film is part of Rentals

Title of error

See Help

Majdhar

Abandoned by her husband through an arranged marriage, a young Pakistani woman decides to make a life in England

Drama 1984 78 mins

Director: Ahmed Alauddin Jamal

Rent for £3.50

Overview

Cultural identity, women’s independence and the pressure to conform to British norms are the subjects of this bold and acute feature, which explores both British-Asian experience and the plight of recent immigrants. Rita Wolf (My Beautiful Laundrette), plays Majdhar, a Pakistani woman who transforms herself in London after her husband leaves her for another woman. While Majdhar feels her way towards confident self-determination, husband Afzal is torn between his heritage and his Western aspirations.

Majdhar was the first feature of Indian-born director Ahmed Jamal, who went on to make numerous television documentaries on Asian issues and the black comic feature Mad Dogs (2001). The film was produced by the Asian film collective Retake Film and Video, with support from the Greater London Council and Channel 4. Like the more famous My Beautiful Laundrette (released the following year) it benefited from the new space for previously marginalised voices created by the fledgling Channel 4. It was first shown at the London Film Festival in 1984 and screened on Channel 4 in 1985.

Director

Ahmed Alauddin Jamal

Featuring

Rita Wolf , Tony Wredden and Meera Syal

Genres

Drama

Country

United Kingdom

Language

English

Rent for £16.00

Small Things Like These Small Things Like These

Drama 2024 99 mins

Oscar-winner Cillian Murphy delivers a stunning performance as a coal merchant who discovers horrific secrets about his local convent.

Rent for £4.50

Only the River Flows Only the River Flows

Crime 2023 102 mins Director: Shujun Wei

Shujun Wei's slow-burn noir draws us inexorably into its mysterious psychological journey.

Rent for £4.50

The Critic The Critic

Period drama 2023 101 mins Director: Anand Tucker

Ian McKellen is in delicious form as London's most vicious critic, who strikes a Faustian pact with a struggling actor (Gemma Arterton).

Rent for £2.50

Special People Special People

Comedy 2008 74 mins Director: Justin Edgar

Justin Edgar's pioneering feature comedy about a neurotic filmmaker enlisted to make a film with a class of wheelchair-users.

Rent for £10.00

The Goldman Case The Goldman Case

Drama 2023 116 mins Director: Cédric Kahn

Gripping courtroom drama based on the explosive 1976 murder trial of French political activist, Pierre Goldman.

Rent for £4.50

In Camera In Camera

Drama 2024 95 mins Director: Naqqash Khalid

A struggling actor faces relentless knockbacks in Naqqash Khalid’s sharp-witted comment on race and identity in the film industry.

Rent for £3.50

East Is East East Is East

Comedy 1999 97 mins Director: Damien O'Donnell

Damien O'Donnell's charming comedy-drama about Zaheed Khan (Om Puri), the patriarch of a Pakistani-British family whose children begin to reject their heritage and embrace UK life.

Rent for £3.50

Bend it Like Beckham Bend it Like Beckham

Sport 2002 112 mins Director: Gurinder Chadha

Gurinder Chadha’s smash hit about an Asian girl with an undying love for football.

Rent for £3.50

Brothers in Trouble Brothers in Trouble

Drama 1996 103 mins Director: Udayan Prasad

Udayan Prasad's perceptive 1995 drama follows Amir (Pavan Malhotra), a Pakistani immigrant living in England and adjusting to his new life - including meeting an Irish girl who moves into his boarding house.