Friday 27 August 2010

2 programmes and one film!

Mother says I watch too much TV. I beg to differ (naturally.) So here are two recent programmes and one short film I've watched recently that I need to share.

1) "Middle Eastenders"

For those of you that don't know, Eastenders is a long-running British soap set in the East End of London, hence the name. This programme, Middle Eastenders documents the history of the East London Mosque. It includes why it was built, how long it took and the plight of the owners to make the mosque how they wanted. I found it really interesting as it casts a light on those Muslims who migrated from the Hindo-Pak subcontinent during the 20th Century, and how hard it actually was for them to practise Islam once they got here.

(click here to watch it)

2) Dispatches: When cousins marry

This programme was on channel 4 on Monday and it was eagerly-awaited (on my part anyway) after watching some trailers. The reporter went round to families who have suffered the consequences first-hand of cousin marriages. Such families have children with debilitating conditions with progressively worsen. Genetic studies have found a link between cousin marriages and genetic conditions. Cousin marriages are a tradition for many "Asian" Muslims in Britian, and the frequency of such marriages has increased. Although Islam neither forbids nor encourages cousin marriages, I think an attitude change is needed and people need to be educated about the risks. It's going to take religious leaders and community Elders to actually tell the people, as government campaigns wont work, due to the risk of stigmatising people.

Anyway, click here to watch it

3) Ummah Films:  "Doctor Director"

This is so funny, and it barely needs an introduction as Baba Ali's ummah films are pretty famous. Although Ive no experience of this, it's a real situation many young Muslims face. It isnt entirely convincing as the daughter looks Pakistani and the parens are Arab!! and the dad is reading an Urdu newspaper- LOL, but it's a good watch despite that.

Click here to watch it or watch it below:

6 comments:

Dina said...

Great choices. Thank you for sharing this. Ramadan Mubarak..

hijabi hippie hypo said...

You're welcome Dina, glad you liked them. You too, hope it's going well

[[[ x Smiley x ]]] said...

Thanks for sharing these! Will watch Doctor Director.

I agree with you on the marrying cousins thing, Asians are pretty well known for that. You must have heard of that joke, an asian couple were coming out of a courtroom having just gotten a divorce, the woman was crying her eyes out, the man turns to her and goes, "At least we are still cousins,"
It real hits it on the head doesnt it?
:D

hijabi hippie hypo said...

Smiley have you watched it? What did you think?

Haha yes I have heard that one, it's pretty notorious. oh yep it definitely does! x

Under Urooba's Umbrella! said...

I used to be a MAJOR T.V. addict--but now I only watch one show diligently!
Such a contrast, huh?

The shows you've described seem so interesting...gonna go watch "Doctor Director" now! :D

hijabi hippie hypo said...

Wow. May i ask what that one show is?
Cool let me know what you think