The Infidel
A warm-hearted, gentle film that may have been striving for controversy, but is actually a harmless advert for multicultural London.
In a film written specifically with comedian Omid Djalili in mind, David Baddiel has got his first film script to the big screen, in the unlikely hands of Song of Songs director Josh Appignanesi, dealing with slightly less Orthodox Jewish issues this time.
Djalili plays Mahmud, a happy-go-lucky London mini cab driver, loving husband and father. He's a Muslim, but not particularly devout. In fact, he has to try and up his religious game when his son wishes to marry the stepdaughter of an Islamic fundamentalist. Whilst clearing out his late mother's house, Mahmud discovers an adoption certificate, leading to an amusing breakdown at the town hall upon discovers his real name is Solly Shimshillewitz, and he was born to Jewish parents. We follow Mahmud's turmoil as he keeps his heritage a secret while tracing his dying father, confiding only in grumpy American cabbie Lenny (Richard Schiff) for advice in all things Jewish.
Baddiel's script pokes fun at stereotypes of both religions (the hook-handed hate cleric, the prancing around to Fiddler On The Roof), and Appignanesi handles Djalili's boisterous slapstick tendencies with restraint. However, the scenes where Mahmud descends into silly fantasy moments are jarring and juvenile, and contrast heavily with the self-loathing droll humour from West Wing star Schiff's misanthrope. One of the best moments is where the American explains to Mahmud all the different Jews in the world, along with teaching Mahmud how to appease Matt Lucas's rabbi. Starting as a sophisticated comedy and a carefully observed look at identity, the story resorts to using a contrived plot device for a Scooby-Doo ending. However, the appealing cast, including Archie Panjabi as Mahmud's wife Saamiya, and Mina Anwar as her best friend, bring an endearing touch to a warm-hearted, gentle film that may have been striving for controversy, but is actually a harmless advert for multicultural London. A very British affair that will probably amuse its targets more than anyone else.
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