The Infidel

I've just returned from what the organizers dubbed as "The World Premier" of 'The Infidel' at the Hammersmith Apollo, and the mere fact that the first thing on my mind is to review it should say something about this strategically mastered movie written by David Baddiel, who to my surprise can deliver an equally hilarious stand up performance.

The movie takes place in East London and it revolves around the life the Mahmud Nasir a semi-liberal Muslim family man minicab driver whose world gets disrupted by his mother's death and goes into an emotional period compounded by his son's recent engagement to a Pakistani "hate cleric's" step daughter. Mahmud uncovers his birth certificate while cleaning out his mother's stuff and eventually discovers that he is adopted and his original parents are Jewish.

As Mahmud's world swivels in a state of disarray he turns to the only Jewish person he knows, semi-alcoholic recently divorced clinically depressed Lenny (Richard Schiff from The West Wing), who takes it upon himself to teach now 'Solly Shimshillewitz' Jewishness! The two embark on a journey of "oy vey" rehearsals and 'Fiddler on the Roof' reaction sessions as Lenny shows Mahmud the difference between the various types of London Jews. Mahmud's life takes a turn for the worse when he accidentally uncovers wearing a yarmulke at a pro-Palestine rally to which he reacts and subsequently becomes blessed by the "hate cleric".

During this period Mahmud questions his identity and goes into a cathartic phase where logic prevails and he reaches a firm conclusion of who he is and what it means to be Mahmud Nasir.

This tactically mastered comedy touches on subjects regarded as taboo in the film industry and attempts to portray logical religious soundness at a time when religious righteousness is synonymous with hate. A well delivered comedy filled with laugh out loud moments entertains, educates and surprises with a performance by Omid Djalili that can only be described as "joyfully expected".

Viewed at the Festival de Film 2011, Cannes

Omid Djalili is a brilliant comedian. So is David Baddiel, the writer. But The Infidel's biggest weakness is its contrived and less than fully functional script: a proud Muslim man discovers he's actually Jewish. Roll on the floor clutching your sides? Afraid not.

It's not that the film's heart is in the wrong place, but it wears its liberal credentials and heart so openly, flaunting them on both sleeves, so desperate not to offend it takes no risks whatsoever and comes over as, at best, anodyne.

Yes there are some good laughs, but they are occasional and not frequent enough. Instead, we get the author using the characters to give a wave-the-index finger lecture about the need for all of us to get on and look below the surface that is religion and judge the person. Problem is, for many people religion is more than surface deep but the core of the individual, so all reality is missing from this film. Just pause for a second and consider how a strictly religious community would most likely react to discovering one of its members is actually batting for the other side, as it were.

Well, fair enough, this is meant to be a comedy, which brings me back to my main criticism: it's not that funny. Omid Djalili has his moments, rolling his eyes and floundering around as his whole life and identity is turned upside down. He also has the perfect white, liberal, Guardian-reading, Channel 4-viewing person's ideal of the perfect Muslim family. Like I say, contrived to the nines.

This is an audience that doesn't need this film because it's already presold on it. Will the film change the mindset of the less tolerant members of the community? Of course not, because they won't go see it anyway. As entertainment it falls flat because it's too preachy, too well intentioned, telling you to eat your broccoli and explaining why it's good for you. In fact, if all concerned were not part of the charmed inner circle of British film making, The Infidel would never have got made to start with, any decent producer rejecting the script at the outset.

After a long time, I get the chance to see another charming little British comedy in the form of David Baddiel's 'The Infidel'. In times like this, when there is so much tension in the world between people of different religious backgrounds, 'The Infidel' has come at the right time. But while the film has a relevant message addressing the tension between Muslims and Jews, at heart, it's a comedy. There are plenty of laugh out loud moments and the cultural and religious clashes are hilariously depicted. Directorially Josh Apignanessi has done a fine. Baddiel's writing is sharp and his original story is well displayed on screen. Omid Djalili is remarkable as Mahmud, the Muslim who doesn't pray fives times a day, who doesn't fast every day of Ramadan and who occasionally has a(n alcoholic) drink, but whose world is shattered when he discovers that his biological parents are Jews. Archie Punjabi looks a little too young to play the mother of a twenty-something young man. Otherwise she is terrific with a laidback performance as Mahmud's wife. Richard Schiff is hilarious as he once again depicts his flair for dry humour.

'The Infidel' gets a little dramatic in the pre-ending sequences. Sometimes it's a tad too preachy. However, there are plenty of laugh out loud moments to keep one thoroughly entertained. Cleverly written, well directed, wonderfully acted, 'The Infidel' is tickling entertainment.

I felt disappointment at the end. But not because there is anything wrong with it. Just that I really want something to hit the nail on the head with Israel/Palestine/Antisemitism/Islamophobia and get rid of this huge problem. Though why would one expect a comedy to do such a thing? The reason I am so desperate to see an end to these conflicts is because they are so difficult to resolve. And because, in my opinion, they are the biggest stimulus for all the terror nonsense going on these days. Why young men get their legs and more blown off every day, people get bombed and shot, air strikes destroy ambulances, loads of people go around being racist, security checks take forever and Western nations end up torturing people thus ruining their credibility when trying advocate human rights. What a mess!

This topic is under publicised considering how important it is. Too little is said. And when I see/hear people discussing it I too often see/hear people rigidly stuck to a position from which no meaningful compromise of opinion can be reached without heat, anger, shouting, conflation of issues etc.

The film does address the issue and I think boldly. Inevitably some people will find this offensive to both Muslim and Jewish people. I am neither (though I know plenty of both). But I like the fact that it has characters coming out with all the racist BS that gets said - and makes it sound ridiculous like it is. And there are 'good' and 'bad' characters from both sides.

The thing about the racist 'BS' mentioned above is that a lot of the criticism that falls on entire religions/races is appropriate when aimed at individuals belonging to those groups. It's the blanket generalisations that are wrong and annoy me. I felt that it helped to demonstrate that it's individual idiots, not idiotic peoples, that give huge numbers of people a tarnished reputation in the eyes of those unwilling to think too hard about all of this. And I am happy this film has done that.

I suspect I might review how highly I think of this film at a later date. Did it seem less funny than it could have because of the subject? Or was I willing it to seem funny because I was happy with what it was trying to do? I know I will laugh upon remembering some scenes and ideas. It should be watched.

Having not heard very much at all about this film I was still cautiously optimistic about the prospect of it. The film centres around casual Muslim Mahmud Nasir (Omid Djalili) who by chance finds out he was adopted and born a Jew with his real name being Solly Schimshillewitz. He opts to get the advice of American taxi driver Lenny in how to be Jewish so he can see his biological father before he dies. All the while his son is wishing to marry the stepdaughter of a Muslim cleric whom Mahmud must gain blessing from. The premise sounds reasonable doesn't it?

However the problem in my eyes is that it is not really suited to a 1 hour 45 minute film and more like a TV series where it would not be as rushed in terms of plot and character development. (although admittedly I would be a little sceptical at a TV series to be honest). Another (albeit minor) problem is Djalili himself where I think he doesn't lead a film as well as he does fit into smaller roles. Don't get me wrong I am a fan and I think he is hilarious in his stand up role but I feel he just wasn't perfect in this. In spite of these negatives the film itself is still decent and while it doesn't produce any genuine laugh out loud moments it is still quite funny.

In my mind undoubtedly Richard Schiff stole the show where his screen time with Djalili was pretty funny. Of course their best interaction comes in the form of a montage, the most predictable method. I bring back the TV series factor here where I really think their interaction would have been best utilised. To conclude the film is reasonably funny but it would really give you anything more than a few laughs at awkward situations. That said if you get an opportunity check it out there's much worse out there.