Ken Loach’s 2004 film Ae Fond Kiss is an independent film, made in Scotland, depicting an interracial romance between an Asian man of Pakistani origin and a white Catholic woman. Its approach to the theme of interracial romance follows a rather conventional plot, depicting the conflicts between the couple’s different cultures, the obstacles they face from conservative older generations, and the contours of their love. At the same time, the film has been lauded as being “more realistic.” You will critically think about this film in comparison with Hollywood films on interracial romance, and in your essay, you will craft an argument for these issues: the stereotypical representation of race and the conventional plot of interracial romance.
You will attempt to answer the following questions: What is the message that the film conveys in terms of interracial romance and various ethnic/racial communities in a culture? Is this independent film’s description of race and ethnic culture different from stereotypical representations of race in Hollywood films? If not, how are the characters in Ae Fond Kiss stereotypically depicted? Does Ae Fond Kiss significantly diverge from the conventional plots of Hollywood films of interracial romance? Why or why not?
In order to make a convincing argument, you will need to do the following:
1. Find one or two scholarly sources that delineate the stereotypical representation of race and/or interracial romance in Hollywood films. You will integrate these articles into your essay to support your argument.
2. Mention one or two Hollywood movies to make a comparison with Ae Fond Kiss.
3. Find evidence from Ae Fond Kiss to support your claim. While you can and should use general information or observations from the entire movie, a strong essay will focus on two or three scenes that you will read closely to illustrate the claims you make in your paper.
