London in the 1980s. Omar is a clean- limbed young Pakistani with budding entrepreneurial instincts. He is encouraged by his ebullient uncle Nasser to take an interest in opening a laundrette. Omar's scholarly, left- wing papa disapproves, but Omar pitches in, even hiring an old schoolyard adversary- the charming hooligan Johnny- to help him out. Together they make a success, as well as a sexual relationship. But Omar quickly comes to realise the constrictions of the ties that bind, and the consequences of biting the hand that feeds. Bracingly well- observed, incisively quick- witted, unapologetically sexual, My beautiful Laundrette was Hanif Kureishi's first screenplay, a low- budget venture which went triumphantly around the world, and earned Kureishi an Oscar nomination for best original screenplay of 1985.