This is Peter Kosminsky, the writer and director of Britz. I will be on line immediately after the end of part two, at about 11.15pm on Thursday 1st November, to hear your comments and answer any questions. Thank you in advance for watching.
I am well and truly hooked! will definately get people talking and even open up a few minds. Great acting too... nothing is clean cut or black and white, its all a big mess and never ending... can't wait till tomorrow!
Hi Peter, I've just watched the 1st part and it well brilliant. Possibly the most well written tv drama I've watched all year! It really brings up some questions and I'm looking forward to your live discussion tomorrow. I must admit that the ending didn't throw me for a loop, though maybe that's the film buff in me covering all bases! :-)
'Remember the time in High School when I didn't give you my baby?'
Dear Peter, Fantastic first part..storyline, casting everything...am bit frustrated for the main character as he seems to be dealing with so much buracracy and not being appreciated enough..loved it! Cathy S
Hi Peter, yeah i just finished watching the first part. I thought that for purly entertainment value the drama was great. Also i think that some of themes and ideas were spot on. Like what turns young Muslims to these extremes. looking forward to tommorow. peace
Neither is it for the Sun to overtake the Moon, nor is it for the night to outstrip the day. And the planets are swimming in their own orbits.
A cracking episode. Not trying to paint a bad picture of anyone or justify either 'side'. I fear the second part will end badly for the star of this episode, though.
Hi Peter, wasn't able to watch the first episode with undivided attention unfortunately, but enough to get the picture and get hooked. Looking forward to part 2 tonight. Lots of themes and issues explored with sophistication within a good thriller. Great show.
I loved the first episode from a cinematic point of view. The screenplay is very good. The story, obviously, is kind of all over the place, but it did come closer together towards the end. At the end of the last shot, my sister and I just froze like what?!?! Can't wait for tonight's episode. I like the fact that this is dealing with something so potent, and in a way that is so authentic. I am a young Brit myself, born in London to Muslim parents, and it's so strange that I can see myself in Sohail's shoes a lot! Even my sister looked at me after some of the lines his character spoke as if to so 'that could be you' :P (just his way of thought, not his actions ) So back to the film.. it is gripping and I think it could do something in the way of opening peoples minds about many issues. The cast are very good. I particularly like Manjinder Virk portraying Nasima, she really has dug her teeth into the character, so effortless.
It seems churlish to complain given the intentions, but for me this film struggled to decide if it was a thriller (as C4 publicised it) or a drama - the two are not necessarily the same, and the cracks were clear.
The twin paths set up for/by the brother and sister were too obvious and – in the first 5 minutes – to simplistic.
There were some errors or at least queries, too; flying a desk officer to a foreign rendition camp just because he knew the detainee; a desk officer being sent on a burglary test mission; what we were told was a telephone tap room then apparently also picking up bug transmissions (ie microphones that hear everything in the room, not just what’s said on a phone line). And when Tess and Sohail slept together, where exactly were they? Not his place, or hers – she knocked. Not a safe house or a hotel – she knocked.
I'll watch the rest of course as the thriller element intrigued; it's just that I'd like to have seen more of the humna issues/drama and less of the high-tech spy thriller trappings.
I enjoyed it very much and was talking about with my couisn on the way too work and said that sohail could be any of us.
Peter what I would like to point out is there are many muslims who practise there faith to full pray/fast etc etc who will be proud to british but guess some stereotypes had to be included.
THE BRITZ PROGRAMME IS VERY ENTERTAINING FOR A FICTIONAL DRAMA AND THATS ALL IT IS. ENTERTAINING DRAMA.
IM A MUSLIM AND THE ASSERTION THAT UNIVERSITIES USE THEIR PRAYER TIMES OR MEETINGS AS TIMES TO SAY SUCH THINGS IS WRONG. IT CAN BE NEGATIVE PROTRAYAL OF THESE MEETINGS AND CAN CAUSE PROBLEMS WHEN CONDUCTING SERMONS. I HAVE BEEN TO MANY UNIVERSITY METTINGS AND NEVER HAVE I HEARD SUCH STUFF I HAVE HEARD PRAYERS AND QUOTES FROM HADITHS AND QURAN INFORMING OF OUR DUTIES TO SOCIETY, FAMILY AND THE LORD.
A MUSLIM WOULD NOT BE ABLE TO INSULT ANOTHER MUSLIM BROTHER ESPECIALLY FOR HIS ATIRE AS DONE BY THE CHARACTER SOHAIL. IN REALITY SOHAIL WOULD HAVE BEEN BEATEN NO MATTER IF HE IS A MARTIAL ARTS TRINER. I UNDERSTAND IT DOES NOT MAKE GOOD ENTERTAINMENT TO HAVE A REAL MUSLIM AS THE LEAD AS A REAL MUSLIM PRAYS ON HIS OWN ACCORD, IS HONEST, DOES NOT HAVE SEX UNLESS IT IS WITH HIS PARTNER AND DOES NOT CONSUME ALCOHOL. HE IS A BRIT BUT A MUSLIM I WOULDNT SAY THAT. A PERSON IS BORN INTO A MUSLIM AND IS MADE A MUSLIM WITH SOME RIGHTS AND AT AN AGE OF UNDERSTANDING HE MUST FOLLOW ISLAMIC DUTIES, IF HE FAILS TO DOD SO THEN HE IS NOT A MUSLIM. ITS LIKE EXTREMIST WHO ACT OUT OF ISLAM THEY ARE SIMPLY NOT MUSLIM NOT EXTREME MUSLIM.
NASIMA VIEWS I HAVE HEARD IN THE PAST AND CAN APPRECIATE ARE QUITE ACCURATE, VIEWS ARE PRESENT AND MANY DONT ACT UPON THEM WITHOUT SOME THING SINISTER HAPPENING IN THEIR LIFE. EXAMPLE DEATH OF A LOVED ONE. MANY OF THESE PEOPLE DO LEAD ACTIVE LIVES IN PRAYER BUT ALSO LIVES IN WHICH THEY FALL IN LOVE AND DEPENDING ON CIRCUMSTANCES CAN GO ONE WAY OR ANOTHER. TO BE HONEST YOU COULD SEE THAT THIS IS WERE THE SHOW WAS GOING FROM THE ONSET. IN REALITY SHE WOULD NOT BE NAIVE TO GO TO PAKISTAN SHE WOULD REFUSE. BUT THIS IS DRAMA AND IN MY VIEWS THE DRAMA SHOULD REVEAL SHE HAS TALKED TO IMRAN AND FOUND ABOUT TRAINING CAMPS IN PAKISTAN AND SOUGHT THIS AS AN OPPORTUNITY TO GO.
PRETTY ENTERTAINING STUFF IF VIEWED LIKE THAT BUT THIS WILL NOT BRIDGE GAPS BUT DRAW THEM FURTHER APART.
SAY IF TOMORROW THE PEOPLE THAT HAVE BEEN DISCUSSED IN THIS PROGRAMME AS TERRORIST ARE SAID TO BE INNOCENT, WILL THE BRITZ PROGRAMME COMPENSATE THEM?
IGNORANCE IS NOT AN EXCUSE TODAY OR TOMORROW!
**** MAY ALLAH BLESS ALL WITH WISDOM HAPPINESS AND SUCCESS, MAY ALLAH GRANT ALL THE ABILITY TO LIVE FOR OTHERS AS APPOSE TO THEMSELVES******
Peter, Britz is very entertaining and gripping. It seems to be quite plausable speaking as a non-Muslim but there is one obvious inaccuracy to reality within MI5. Upon entering the building, Thames House, no one including employees no matter what rank is permitted to bring mobile phones past the security turnstiles. They all have to be handed over to the security desk and collected upon exiting. If you don't believe me, ask my estranged wife who still works there.
hye peter being muslim is really difficult in the uk coz we are proud britz but we're proud muslims too. i think this drama, which was very well wrtten, is going to cause a lot of controversy between people. Just because muslims believe jihad is important, doesnt mean we agree with suicide bombings or we feel they are right.
The Quran says that we are allowed to fight back when we think our faith is under threat.
Originally posted by XAKX: THE BRITZ PROGRAMME IS VERY ENTERTAINING FOR A FICTIONAL DRAMA AND THATS ALL IT IS. ENTERTAINING DRAMA.
IM A MUSLIM AND THE ASSERTION THAT UNIVERSITIES USE THEIR PRAYER TIMES OR MEETINGS AS TIMES TO SAY SUCH THINGS IS WRONG. IT CAN BE NEGATIVE PROTRAYAL OF THESE MEETINGS AND CAN CAUSE PROBLEMS WHEN CONDUCTING SERMONS. I HAVE BEEN TO MANY UNIVERSITY METTINGS AND NEVER HAVE I HEARD SUCH STUFF I HAVE HEARD PRAYERS AND QUOTES FROM HADITHS AND QURAN INFORMING OF OUR DUTIES TO SOCIETY, FAMILY AND THE LORD.
A MUSLIM WOULD NOT BE ABLE TO INSULT ANOTHER MUSLIM BROTHER ESPECIALLY FOR HIS ATIRE AS DONE BY THE CHARACTER SOHAIL. IN REALITY SOHAIL WOULD HAVE BEEN BEATEN NO MATTER IF HE IS A MARTIAL ARTS TRINER. I UNDERSTAND IT DOES NOT MAKE GOOD ENTERTAINMENT TO HAVE A REAL MUSLIM AS THE LEAD AS A REAL MUSLIM PRAYS ON HIS OWN ACCORD, IS HONEST, DOES NOT HAVE SEX UNLESS IT IS WITH HIS PARTNER AND DOES NOT CONSUME ALCOHOL. HE IS A BRIT BUT A MUSLIM I WOULDNT SAY THAT. A PERSON IS BORN INTO A MUSLIM AND IS MADE A MUSLIM WITH SOME RIGHTS AND AT AN AGE OF UNDERSTANDING HE MUST FOLLOW ISLAMIC DUTIES, IF HE FAILS TO DOD SO THEN HE IS NOT A MUSLIM. ITS LIKE EXTREMIST WHO ACT OUT OF ISLAM THEY ARE SIMPLY NOT MUSLIM NOT EXTREME MUSLIM.
NASIMA VIEWS I HAVE HEARD IN THE PAST AND CAN APPRECIATE ARE QUITE ACCURATE, VIEWS ARE PRESENT AND MANY DONT ACT UPON THEM WITHOUT SOME THING SINISTER HAPPENING IN THEIR LIFE. EXAMPLE DEATH OF A LOVED ONE. MANY OF THESE PEOPLE DO LEAD ACTIVE LIVES IN PRAYER BUT ALSO LIVES IN WHICH THEY FALL IN LOVE AND DEPENDING ON CIRCUMSTANCES CAN GO ONE WAY OR ANOTHER. TO BE HONEST YOU COULD SEE THAT THIS IS WERE THE SHOW WAS GOING FROM THE ONSET. IN REALITY SHE WOULD NOT BE NAIVE TO GO TO PAKISTAN SHE WOULD REFUSE. BUT THIS IS DRAMA AND IN MY VIEWS THE DRAMA SHOULD REVEAL SHE HAS TALKED TO IMRAN AND FOUND ABOUT TRAINING CAMPS IN PAKISTAN AND SOUGHT THIS AS AN OPPORTUNITY TO GO.
PRETTY ENTERTAINING STUFF IF VIEWED LIKE THAT BUT THIS WILL NOT BRIDGE GAPS BUT DRAW THEM FURTHER APART.
SAY IF TOMORROW THE PEOPLE THAT HAVE BEEN DISCUSSED IN THIS PROGRAMME AS TERRORIST ARE SAID TO BE INNOCENT, WILL THE BRITZ PROGRAMME COMPENSATE THEM?
have some very points and i agree as stated my original post why cant they show a muslim lead who is a msulim by choice and feels british why do they always have 2 b shown as slightly more in tune with the british way of life.
I do not think he would get beaten up for saying what he said to the guy in the arab outfit i totally agree with that statment that is not the tradtionla dress of muslims as all muslims are not arabs it is a dress that is for arabs!
The sister going to pakistan was more to do with running away then being weak she knew her famalies reation so that why she told them abt her bf.
Originally posted by XAKX: THE BRITZ PROGRAMME IS VERY ENTERTAINING FOR A FICTIONAL DRAMA AND THATS ALL IT IS. ENTERTAINING DRAMA.
Wrong. Of course it's a television show but it goes beyond just entertaiment, far beyond. It is dealing with current affairs. The fact that we're here talking about it shows just that
quote:
Originally posted by XAKX: IM A MUSLIM AND THE ASSERTION THAT UNIVERSITIES USE THEIR PRAYER TIMES OR MEETINGS AS TIMES TO SAY SUCH THINGS IS WRONG. IT CAN BE NEGATIVE PROTRAYAL OF THESE MEETINGS AND CAN CAUSE PROBLEMS WHEN CONDUCTING SERMONS. I HAVE BEEN TO MANY UNIVERSITY METTINGS AND NEVER HAVE I HEARD SUCH STUFF I HAVE HEARD PRAYERS AND QUOTES FROM HADITHS AND QURAN INFORMING OF OUR DUTIES TO SOCIETY, FAMILY AND THE LORD.
Denial! I have personally been to a mosque where I heard the imam talking along those very lines. Very destructive and totally wrong. Needless to say that was the last time I went there. The truth is, it is going on, whether you shy away from it or not. I have spoken to people around me, my peers who were drawn to some of this untruth, plaguing their minds - very sad And going back to your point regarding educational establishments: I experienced the same talk at a particular college meeting during ramadan a couple of years ago.
quote:
Originally posted by XAKX: A MUSLIM WOULD NOT BE ABLE TO INSULT ANOTHER MUSLIM BROTHER ESPECIALLY FOR HIS ATIRE AS DONE BY THE CHARACTER SOHAIL. IN REALITY SOHAIL WOULD HAVE BEEN BEATEN NO MATTER IF HE IS A MARTIAL ARTS TRINER. I UNDERSTAND IT DOES NOT MAKE GOOD ENTERTAINMENT TO HAVE A REAL MUSLIM AS THE LEAD AS A REAL MUSLIM PRAYS ON HIS OWN ACCORD, IS HONEST, DOES NOT HAVE SEX UNLESS IT IS WITH HIS PARTNER AND DOES NOT CONSUME ALCOHOL. HE IS A BRIT BUT A MUSLIM I WOULDNT SAY THAT. A PERSON IS BORN INTO A MUSLIM AND IS MADE A MUSLIM WITH SOME RIGHTS AND AT AN AGE OF UNDERSTANDING HE MUST FOLLOW ISLAMIC DUTIES, IF HE FAILS TO DOD SO THEN HE IS NOT A MUSLIM. ITS LIKE EXTREMIST WHO ACT OUT OF ISLAM THEY ARE SIMPLY NOT MUSLIM NOT EXTREME MUSLIM.
Come on now, don't be so naíve. People don't always do what they're ''supposed'' to do. Never have and never will. Regarding your point on a "good muslim" character not making good entertainment is beside the point really isn't it? The point here is to show the other sides of what we are like; not clear cut. The fact is many muslims drink alcohol and have sexual partners outside of marriage. It is the truth. I am living proof of that. The character of Sohail is a complicated one. He is a young man. His views on the ever-changing climate of the world are developing (as are many of ours today).. He has had to make choices which were evidently far from easy, but he wants to do the right thing. And I think he's mostly right. Did you see the scene where he said how he felt like he wanted to give something back to this country that gave him and his family a life? That should explain it more
quote:
Originally posted by XAKX: NASIMA... ...IN REALITY SHE WOULD NOT BE NAIVE TO GO TO PAKISTAN SHE WOULD REFUSE. BUT THIS IS DRAMA AND IN MY VIEWS THE DRAMA SHOULD REVEAL SHE HAS TALKED TO IMRAN AND FOUND ABOUT TRAINING CAMPS IN PAKISTAN AND SOUGHT THIS AS AN OPPORTUNITY TO GO.
I know the reality is that many young girls have been taken to Pakistan against their own wills. I can vouch for that 100%. It is a well known yet hushed exercise within certain Pakistani communities, mine being one of them. Personally if my family ever tried to do that to my sisters, they'd have to deal with me first! Nasima could not have refused and then just got on with her own life. I guess we'll find out more tonight.
quote:
Originally posted by XAKX: PRETTY ENTERTAINING STUFF IF VIEWED LIKE THAT BUT THIS WILL NOT BRIDGE GAPS BUT DRAW THEM FURTHER APART.
SAY IF TOMORROW THE PEOPLE THAT HAVE BEEN DISCUSSED IN THIS PROGRAMME AS TERRORIST ARE SAID TO BE INNOCENT, WILL THE BRITZ PROGRAMME COMPENSATE THEM?
Which people are you talking about? This is fiction!
About bridging gaps or not - I'm not sure I believe that is the film's main or even secondary purpose. I think it's more to do with getting different points of view out there. Get us all talking about these issues and trying to understand why some people feel the need to go to extremes, because only then can we make it stop! It's about getting us to think for ourselves and not what we're told, whether it's the media or gossip on the street. The more people see that British Muslims are not all the same, the better I say.
Sorry for disceting your post but I found what you wrote needed something to counter it
salma i totally agree with you about the jihad comment, but i was just saying that about jihad in terms of terrorist attacks. personally i don't believe that suicide bombings are a form of jihad, because there is no justification for killing innocents. If we muslims start killing innocents what is the difference between us and those who kill innocent muslims.
I am doing a coursework essay on terrorism and was wondering how reliable the sources on the programme are and what is the symbolism of the end of the first episode where 'kol nidre' is playing in the background?
The story line just re-enforces negative clichés and stereotypes of British-Muslims and Pakistanis.
Such as the forced marriage sequence and where Naseema hides her boyfriend from her family and the sequence where universities are being used to disseminate jihadist literature and videos.
The University sequences are so far from my realty and experiences as a Muslim student, quite shocking and disturbing, as it is so unrealistic for me. Where all the students have radical thoughts and the principals are the only rational Muslims.
The program does try to show some balance by trying to explain the reasons why people are tempted to go down an extreme route, by showing racist police and discussing the unbalanced nature of new terror laws, But I think this is done more to convince people that this is a balanced drama, and hide the fact it is full of stereotypes, of Muslims and Pakistanis.
The drama appeals more to the typical tabloid fodder, where Muslim’s are everywhere any one of them could be a terrorist.
Hi Peter! I am currently researching for my dissertation which about whether terrorism legislation undermines human rights and civil liberties. Your programme has brought up many of the issues I have already researched and would like to use it as a point of reference. Is it possible you could let me know where you got your sources to make the programme or give me any more information on these issues. IS there and address or and email address where I could write to you for further information? Thanks!
I am sick and tired of been called **** every second day on tv i am pakistani and i am proud of pakistan as any brit will be for being a british.........this drama was another example of how less westerns knows about pakistan and islam shame spend so much on advertisement and same old stereotyping of pakistanis and muslims. i would like what as peter what was stopping him to go to pakistan and shot real pakistan than going to india and presenting on tv that this is rawalpindi.thanks
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