"East is east" is a movie about a family who has trouble unifying their ideals and value system due to cultural and thus traditional ways of conducting themselves. Several relationships are apparent and relevant to the way a family and union of two people work, in "East is East." All the members of the Kahn family have some form of issue that is relative to the dictatorial way the family is ruled, and the fact that the dictator will not tolerate intermarriage between Pakistanis and anyone else. Each family member displays a distinct idea as to what they wish to achieve in life, in the ways of marriage. Ella and George Kahn are emanating the biggest divergences, yet their children also bring about many causes for concern according to their parents. .
George is an old-style Pakistani immigrant, and as such, is a traditionalist. He seems to value his beliefs and religion more than the happiness of his family members. George has convinced himself that he knows what is best for his progeny, and is left disillusioned when his family revolts against him and his close-mindedness. .
The main reason for the conflicting opinions of George and Ella are due to Ella's need to satisfy both, her husband and her children's wishes, as well as the fact that she and George are culturally and religiously different from one another. A Catholic woman and a Muslim man can never truly understand the beliefs and traditions of their spouses" religion; ergo they must accept and live with what they can make sense of. .
Ella and George have been married for roughly twenty-five years. All this time, a tension between them has been bubbling within her. Like a pocket of air with no means of discharge, the tension between them begins to explode and manifest itself into fights about how their children should be brought up. George attempts to force his sons into marrying a matching set of ugly Pakistani women. Furthermore, he attempts to do this, even after having put one of his sons into exile because he had chosen to run away rather than marry who his father had chosen.