JAK – Séquence 4

Waiting for the husband-to- be

Circumstances

- Arranged marriage between Rukshana, Casim and Tahara’s sister and Ahmer

- We’re made to undertsand that they’ve never met before

- It’s the first time they’ve met

Costumes

Everybody’s dressed up / dressed to the nines

The women : wearing the traditional sari – keepers of family traditions and values (honor, respect etc…)

Housewives, stay at home, look after the children

The men : wearing a western suit / symbol of their social achievement and status

Have to because they work

Back : costumes in the pictures graduation boards and graduation caps 

Education and degrees are highly valued

Languages spoken

Urdu – Muslim language in India and Pakistan

The women : Casim’s mother doesn’t speak of word of English

Never get the opportunity to pick up any English, do not have any social life

Back : name dropping

Inserting the names of important people – or here instituions – to give an idea – often a false idea – of your social status. Meant to impress the audience

Here universities and degrees

Meaningful shots

Ahmer is on a pedestal, his wife-to-be kneeling before him

Foreshadows what her role in the couple will be

At her Lord and master’s beck and call

Typical Pakistani submissive woman

Tahara’s role

A far cry from her sister / as different as chalk from cheese / antipodal

Assertive / assert herself

She breaks the rule by addressing Ahmer

Her father puts her in her place

She makes another blunder when contradicting her mother

She will not let anyone tread on her toes

Strong-headed

She won’t let anyone v / let herself be pp

Symbolizes