The Film That Challenged Thatcher’s Racist Britain As racism and the far right grew, Channel 4 commissioned young writer Hanif Kureishi to make his first film. My Beautiful Launderette became one of the 1980s’ most influential British films, telling an immigrant and gay love story against Thatcher’s Britain. Kureishi drew on racism, the rise of the National Front and his own experiences to challenge ideas of race, identity and sexuality.