The Infidel (2010) User Reviews

Good as a cultural exploration, at least

[featheredsun · 6/10 · 15 August 2010]

While I did laugh and smirk at this film a few times, it is far from the best comedy I've seen in movies. The interplay between the characters is often well written and there are really some inspired moments (the young daughter's jihaddist language was hilarious!) But the humor sometimes asks you to stretch your suspension of disbelief a little too much.

What I thought was really worthwhile in this film was the portrayal of some modern Muslims and their families and community. We see a tabloid-reading woman in a full burqah with a wonderful east-end/Scottish/cockney accent, an engaging imam who has a ready interpretation of how the modern faithful may deal with homosexuality, and the prevalent use of the internet as a means for modern Muslims to keep current and in-touch. This film deals with issues that are very very important and shows how everyday people respond to them in a very open way.

And I think comedy, if it's done properly, is really the best way to approach these issues in media. This movie does break down some barriers, by showing that, yes, we have some very definite cultural heritages that don't always get along, but we're all just people and we have to share this world for better or for worse.

I would definitely recommend this for any audience. Parents will want to know there is adult subject matter and a lot of adult language. The racist language is an integral part of the story and adds, rather than detracts from the work.

You don't have to be any certain faith to laugh or cry. The Infidel shows this.

Halal/Kosher cook off

[A_Gooner · 7/10 · 8 April 2010]

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".

Omid Djalili gives a terrific comic performance here but is hampered by a script that fails to take any risks

[moviexclusive · 6/10 · 16 September 2010]

There's no denying that "The Infidel" treads tough ground, one that doesn't need much reminding in this day and age. And to be fair, "The Infidel" is one of the more amusing films centred around Muslim/Jewish hostilities in years. Anchored by a hearty performance by stand-up Omid Djalili, who's made funny, incisive observations in his act about his culture and background in relation to English society and also, about the way they talk and behave and what tends to go unsaid in his presence. He has a fun time filling in the nuances of his role here with this keen understanding and terrific comic timing.

Djalili plays Mahmud Nasir, a moderate Muslim father and business-owner in England who finds out that he was born Solomon (Solly) Shimshillewitz and was adopted by Muslim parents. Understandably upset by the threat this weight of truth might bring to his normalcy, Mahmud hides the truth from his impossibly attractive wife (Archie Punjabi), a young daughter who spouts insanely ridiculous stereotypes and from a son who's about to marry the step-daughter of a radical Pakistani cleric. Rocked with an identity crisis, Mahmud enlists the help of a grumpy native New York Jew, Lenny Goldberg played with quick-fire efficiency by Emmy-winner Richard Schiff.

Djalili and Schiff pair well together. Frequently, the best scenes in the film coalesce around them as they traverse new ground – as Mahmud discovers a heritage he never knew and Lenny finds respect for a culture he's spent valuable time opposing. The moral of the story is clear: We're all the same. It's a trite notion but delivered with enough heart and equal opportunity offending on both sides.

This is a high-concept comedy with middle-brow ambitions, setting up substantial questions on ethnicity and religion but leave them hanging. It wants to co-opt the serious issues at play but not address them. At first glance, it's got a premise that brings humour right to the table but even with the best Djalili's got to give, the film lumbers along until a final third that just breaks down in hysterics and plain narrative tedium.

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Between Kosher and Halal

[Chrysanthepop · 17 August 2010]

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.

A very serious comedy.

[planktonrules · 7/10 · 17 January 2012]

"The Infidel" has a funny premise, but the film also treads on many serious topics--straddling the fine line between social satire and social commentary. While it's not a brilliant film, I really respect the filmmakers for making it--and it's good for a laugh.

Omid Djalili plays a Muslim Brit. While not exactly religious, he is anti-Jewish and tries to fit in to his local Muslim community. However, his entire world is turned upside down when he learns that he was adopted...and his birth parents were Jews! He doesn't know what to do--should he try to find his birth parents? Should he ignore all this? Should he perhaps become a Jew or tell his friends and family about this? In addition to answering these questions, the film gets very serious when the man's son falls in love with a lady---and her father is a rabid anti-Semite and jihadist. What's poor Omid to do?!

As I said, the film talks about a lot of VERY sensitive and serious issues and is sure to infuriate the more close-minded viewers--though I doubt if they'd see the film in the first place. But, it also manages to be very silly at times--keeping a light mood when treading on tough topics. I appreciate this very much--it took some guts to make the film. My only complaints are that occasionally the film looked a bit rushed--such as the very contrived ending. It was fun--but not the most inspired portion of the film. Still, you could do a lot worse than watch this film! By the way, this film would make a WONDERFUL addition to watching "West Bank Story"--another film which treads the same territory but manages to do it even better. In fact, "West Bank Story" received (deservedly) the Oscar for Best Short Subject Film--it's that good.

By the way, the film has some very crude language--so hold on tight and don't show it to your mother-in-law!

Funny. Deals with difficult topic. Shouldn't be offensive

[primevalsoup · 7/10 · 10 November 2010]

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.

a good character driven comedy best seen on TV

[dbborroughs · 7/10 · 2 May 2010]

Omid Djalili stars as Muslim who finds out that he was actually born Jewish. This creates an identity crisis that under normal circumstances would have been bad enough, but is compounded by the arrival of a radical cleric who is set to join his family.

Amusing comedy that I saw as part of the Tribeca Film Festival on demand service. This is a rather low key film with most of the jokes coming not from set ups and punchlines, rather from the interaction of the characters. This is not the raucous comedy of some of the recent big budget films, rather it's something smaller.

I like the film. It made me laugh and chuckle and it distracted me for a couple of hours. However as you can tell from my lack of raging enthusiasm in either a good or bad direction is didn't make a huge impression on me. Frankly I saw this film a week ago and I've been putting off writing up the film while I went to screenings at Tribeca (I have written up the 15 other films I saw, but this one flagged behind) It is worth seeing, it will amuse you, and I do look forward to seeing it again myself, however I'd wait for TV where its low key comedy will play better.

The Infidel

[MarcusJ13 · 6/10 · 23 April 2010]

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.

Hilariously Original!!

[anam006 · 10/10 · 12 June 2010]

This movie had me laughing right from the start! It's set around a Muslim man who doesn't care too much about religion until he finds out he's adopted.. and Jewish.

Omid Djalili gave an unsurprising great comedic delivery. He was so convincing as the typical Muslim man who doesn't pray all the time, fast every single day of Ramadan, or always abstain from alcohol. Yet he finds a reason to form a closeness with religion after he finds out shocking and upsetting news that he was born Jewish.

Every single scene in this movie will have you laughing in tears at the ridiculousness of the culture people have created in regards to religion. The plot is a little bit more complex but I don't want to give away too much. If you're Muslim or Jewish, you should definitely watch this movie because I know you'll love this film and want to recommend it to all your friends and family.

Funny and thought provoking

[ihrtfilms · 7/10 · 2 October 2010]

I missed this at this years MIFF and was a little perturbed to read some so so reviews, but never one to believe everything one reads, I went to see it anyway. Good thing that everyone has a different opinion as I really enjoyed this.

Written by David Baddiel the film explores the idea of identity and what that means in religion. When a Muslim man finds out he was adopted and was actually born Jewish it throws his life into chaos. Not only does this provide some very funny moments as he explores Jewish life by befriending a neighbour, whilst hiding the truth from his family, but it also presents an entirely fascinating idea. As a non relgious person, I found the idea that you spend your life believing one thing only to come from another amazing. That the film explores this with humour makes it easy viewing, but it also has a message about tolerance and understanding that is played out with subtlety and isn't shoved done our throats.

Omid Djalili does a great job, his portrayal of the man torn between two ideas is natural and funny, without resorting to a stereotype. Excellent writing by Baddiel gives some great moments, many at the expense of faith, and in a way often shows how ridiculous religion is at times. The film fails near the end as a sub plot of an Islamic cleric actually being a 80's pop star falling flat, but otherwise this is a very funny and entertaining film.

More of my reviews at my site iheartfilm.weebly.com

I waited to chuckle, but it never arrived

[adamscastlevania2 · 2/10 · 19 February 2015]

(19%) A British comedy littered with famous TV faces (or at least to those who live in the UK anyway) that does at least try and bring the divisions in religion a little closer together, but sadly when it comes to being funny this is lacking by quite a big margin. Omid Djalili is a likable, funny guy who tries his best with his oddball, at times highly obnoxious character, while the premise was there for this to be at least a decent watch with plenty of bite. So it's sad that the script is ponderous, a little lazy, and really lacking in the laughs department. I counted two maybe three minor sniggers in the whole film which isn't enough by any stretch. There are some decent bits in among the drab, messy script, but not enough to make this a recommendation.

Excellent story, intelligent and sensitive acting, and absolutely hilarious

[golloglym · 10/10 · 4 September 2010]

I rented The Infidel about 3 hours ago on pay-per-view being expecting a good but misfiring comedy about Jews and Muslims with some fairly obvious humour. However the as ever excellent Omid Jahlili (apologies for any misspellings), and Richard Schiff were the 'odd couple' of this really charming and heart-felt tale which was at times heart-stoppingly funny largely because of the deadpan delivery and wry observational comedy of the two principles. Richard Schiff teachng Omid to say 'oy' before moving on to 'vey' was so funny, but the real heart of the film was the telling of how fragile the racism of religion is and how based it is on misunderstanding, grandstanding, ego and attempting to 'secure the place in one's own community'. If it has a message it's that everyone is prey to their own culture's prejudices even when those prejudices are based on sometimes almost commicaly absurd rubbish,. A true classic. And a perfect selection of leading men.

I was most concerned when a movie called 'The Infidel' was entered into my data banks. Religion is not one of my most developed memory stockpiles.

[reviewbot · 6/10 · 12 August 2010]

Reviewbot needs no higher authority to function. Reviewbot is the higher authority. However, much to my synthesised pleasure, I found that this film dealt with religion and the distinctions between faiths most amusingly. Omid Djalili (The Mummy) plays the protagonist Mahmud Nasir with golden down to earth Britishness. He is a Muslim family man who is not orthodox but maintains his faith and thus is most surprised to learn from his birth certificate that he is a Jew by birth. A conflict of personal identity ensues that leads to hilarious misunderstandings.

Mahmud is aided by a rival cabbie and American Jew who tries to teach him the Jewish traditions, so that he will not surprise his newfound but dying father when he attempts reconciliation. My father was a Commodore C64 and would not have stood for such shenanigans either. So, he says the wrong things at a Bah mitzvah, then at a Muslim rally, then to his son's fiancée's father who is a right wing preacher. A processor capable of calculating a thousand quips per minute like my own is not truly required to understand what is going to happen to the luckless Mahmud.

The plot is acceptable and the comedy is amusing, particularly critical references to faith, and Djalili delivers exactly the performance expected of him. To his credit, he passes the dramatic scenes perfectly well alongside the comedy. Director Josh Appignanesi handles the film very well and while it will not result in stitches to the sides, it will give many chuckles and it has the grey weather tone of poignancy that makes British films great. This quality is a great backdrop to comedy and drama alike and so the package works well. David Baddiel's hand can clearly be seen behind the writing of this movie and his understanding of the mood of British Muslims and Jews shines through. Most importantly the movie deals with racial and religious themes without going down the nasty racism route. Reviewbot knows that racism exists and it's bad, and was most refreshed to have a film deal with these things without getting preachy. Irony detected.

The Infidel DVD release is, in this robot's opinion, a must own for British Muslims who want to laugh at themselves and depictions of themselves. It is also a must own for lovers of British cinema and those who just want to laugh at some people who do silly things sometimes, while saying 'Oy Vey'.

Wishful thinking meets liberal self-indulgence

[Simonster · 5/10 · 29 March 2011]

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.

Original but Poor Execution, a letdown..

[ichocolat · 21 August 2010]

The Infidel (2010) is a film based on an original idea, but was executed poorly. The idea is good, thought-provoking, but the execution fell short of expectations.

The film revolves around a Muslim man, who was shocked to know that he was adopted, and that his real parents are Jewish! And to make things worse, his real dad was a Jewish top-ranked personnel! He was so surprised to learn about it, and he was very afraid to let others know about it. And that has made his wife curious, especially after finding that his sudden change of attitude, which made her believe that he is having an affair.

And his son, is marrying a Muslim clerics, who understands Quran by heart, and can versed it very well.

So here's the dilemma; resume life as a Muslims, or embrace his new-found religion.

What I like most about this film is the idea behind it. About religions, about people using religion to fulfill worldly needs.

But what is lacking is the execution. It was done lazily, without much research being made on the religions portrayed. About the complexity of it all.

A score of 5 for this film; a better rating had it being done better.

A sufficiently funny movie

[danielpauldavis · 7/10 · 20 February 2011]

The movie summary made it appear to be something else while the movie itself is a standard-issue situation comedy. The situation is a Moslem man cleaning out his recently-deceased mom's house finds her legal documents, including his adoption certificate. Thru a standard comedy quick-reveal, he finds out he was born to Jewish parents. What follows is satires on the reality on both being Moslem and being Jewish. In that respect, this movie should be shown to both groups and discussed because both groups are fairly represented. Exactly when a man must be the best Moslem possible (so his son can marry the girl of his dreams), he has an identity crisis. The question of his identity is resolved as one would expect, but the humor is in how he does that. The irony is that the only person this Moslem man can tell about his predicament is the Jew across the street from where his mom lived. So, yes, much of the angst wouldn't have happened if he'd been able to be honest with his fellow Moslems, which is another reason both groups should watch this movie. There were points where it was guffaw funny and points where it was painfully honest.

Sweet Nothing

[hpipik · 6/10 · 19 November 2010]

Omid Djalili plays Mahmud, a decent, easy-going family man of very moderate Islamic views (does not pray five times a day, does not really fast on Ramadan, and takes more than a sip of alcohol now and again). It is the highly sympathetic and humorous Djalili, with his wondrously expressive face, that holds the movie together.

Mahmud thinks he is a Muslim through-and-through until he is stunned to discover that he was born of Jewish parents and was adopted, weeks old, by a Muslim family. A sincere man, he wants to find his birth parents, and this immediately throws him into the nexus of two worlds: Muslim and Jewish. The possibilities are endless. Sadly, while the movie produces some very sympathetic sketches, and it is good for a laugh or two, you will regret what might have been.

The fundamental premise of the movie is artificial. First, Islam does not recognize adoption as we understand the concept. Second, Muslims in general and Pakistanis in particular live in a semi-tribal system of extended families, so there is no chance such an adoption would be a secret. Third, the rabbi's behavior, when Mahmud tries to visit his very old and dying birth father, is inexplicable by any Jewish principles. Finally, Islam is a proselytizing religion, so having been born Jewish would not make Mahmud any less Muslim.

Do not imagine, therefore, that by watching this movie you will come to any deeper understanding of Islam or Judaism. In the end, the severely artificial premise of the movie corrupts it irretrievably.

You should watch the movie for the performances, all which are very good. You will have a laugh or two. You will enjoy it. Then forget it.

Rock and bagels

[Prismark10 · 7/10 · 14 February 2015]

Comedian David Baddiel wrote the film The Infidel and turned a wry eye on the cross cultural/religious identity comedy.

Omid Djalili is Mahmud Nasir, a not very devout Muslim but does his best to fit in with the Muslim community. However he learns that he was adopted and his parents were in fact Jewish. This causes embarrassment as his son is due to marry the step daughter of a controversial Muslim cleric and Mahmud needs to appear pious in order to get the cleric's blessing.

At the same time Mahmud wants to track down his real father and a Jewish neighbor whom he confides in helps him to learn about his Jewishness.

This is a refreshing life swap comedy and it helps that Baddiel has a sharp sense in portraying Muslims from the Indian subcontinent living in modern London which actually feels realistic as well as adding satire. Look at the way the cleric has a couple of goons always on hand or the way the cleric asks Mahmud to swear whether alcohol has passed his lips.

Baddiel who is Jewish also pokes fun at the Jewish community especially at those offended when Mahmud accidentally burns a Kippah and then go to protest outside his house and are later shocked when he announces his origins.

The film is a lot of fun. Richard Schiff and Omid Djalili bounce of well with each other.

A Nutshell Review: The Infidel

[DICK STEEL · 10/10 · 19 September 2010]

When I watched this film I wonder if a story like this could actually come out from Singapore's film industry. After all, we're one multi-racial and multi-religious melting pot so the context of having such characters here isn't that far fetched, and to have this screened here (albeit under an M18 rating), does say something. Moreover, it's a great film speaking up against religious fanaticism, and aimed its sights well at false prophets who adopt a holier than thou attitude in hoodwinking their followers.

Mahmud Nasir (Omid Djalili) and his family are a typical moderate Muslim family, with Mahmud himself living the rather carefree life that had just overcome the death of his mom. His son Rashid (Amit Shah) announces that his intended fiancée and wife to be Uzma (Soraya Radford) will soon be getting a new stepdad, and as it turns out permission for her hand in marriage will have to be sought from none other than Arshad El Masri (Yigal Naor), a firebrand Pakistani cleric infamous for his anti-Western tirades. To Mahmud, this spells trouble to be associated with such a negative, high profile figure, but for the love of his son, have to put up his best behaviour when this international figure comes for a visit to discuss marriage. Not to mention the stress of having to portray himself as a devout Muslim man!

And to make matters worse, like the trailer already suggested at length, Mahmud discovers while clearing up his mom's place that he's adopted, and traces his lineage to be actually that of a Jew. A major identity crisis ensues because of his son's future happiness, and of course him having to rediscover and seek out the truth about his roots. With his birth father in critical health in the hospital and at the insistence of a rabbi (Matt Lucas), Mahmud has to reconnect with his Jewish roots in order to stand a whiff of a chance to talk to a man on his deathbed. Thus begins a comedy of errors arising from a clash of obvious cultures and attitudes when Mahmud has to reconcile with a one-time enemy Lenny Goldberg (Richard Schiff), in order to learn the Jewish customs and culture in double quick time.

There are plenty of jokes here that treaded the fine line of being racist, and I mean a very fine line. But as the movie put it across, it isn't racist if the one telling it is actually highlighting and poking fun at one's own race, which leaves some food for deeper thought. So we have a barrage of comical situations, some brilliantly crafted and full of wit, while others fell flat and came across as quite distastefully done, but nonetheless there were more positive rip-roaring moments than not, which I feel only the relatively more uptight folks will find additional reasons not to let loose and enjoy the film as it is.

More importantly though, beyond the laughter, is its theme of family and friendship that transcends how we look and who we are on the surface, segregated and branded by our name, or religion, or culture, which should never be the case. Sure we can have the freedom to believe in what we want, but with that also come tolerance for that of others, and a reminder never to judge others or compare just because we're different at that level, but fundamentally we belong to the same species inhabiting the same shared earth, and life will be all the more harmonious should we not try to impose bigoted thoughts on others.

While the ending may seem a little bit stretched, it did work as intended, and provided a fitting finale with moderatism triumphing over extremism. Both Omid Djalili and Richard Schiff put up fine performances and share excellent chemistry together as enemies turned friends, with their scenes together being some of the best be it focused on physical comedy, or through that rapid fire exchange of insults. Highly recommended for its relevance in our day and age for the messages it sets out to counsel.

Americans shouldn't bloody be driving a black cab anyway!

[hitchcockthelegend · 6/10 · 27 May 2012]

The Infidel is directed by Josh Appignanesi and written by David Baddiel. It stars Omid Djalili, Richard Schiff, Yigal Naor and Matt Lucas. Music is by Erran Baron Cohen and cinematography by Natasha Braier. Mahmud Nasir, a British Muslim, goes through an identity crisis when he discovers he was adopted as a child and born to a Jewish family.

It's a tricky subject to make a comedy out of, but by and large the makers have produced an enjoyable and observational pleasure. Led by the ebullient Omid Djalili as the conflicted protagonist, film unfolds in a series of sections involving Israel, Palestine, Antisemitism and Islamophobia. Along the way there are some great gags, both visual and vocal, but then it culminates in the inevitable message and relies heavily on a weak reveal. The motives and means are genuine, this is not an offensive movie, it has a point and for those who want to delve deeper there is much to kick off discussion. But ultimately it's a good comedy with strong themes of identity and family ties binding the racial hot points at the core. 6/10

What the???!!!

[lamb_liz · 1/10 · 18 September 2010]

David Baddiel should hang his head in shame. This had so much promise but failed to deliver in a spectacular fashion...I was glued to it as you would be to an awful disaster - toes curled - my hands covering my face, slamming from one awful line to another. It was like a bad school play, you want it to be good, but instead you find yourself sloping in your seat, cringing, hoping it will end soon. The ending was the icing on a truly shoddy cake, and for all the wrong reasons, got the only laugh of the whole film. I'm amazed that so many good actors/actresses put their names to it - and more that a very funny guy could come up with such bilge!Dire.

Absolutely wonderful!

[missysabates · 10/10 · 25 September 2020]

My heart was truly moved. Don't miss out...see the film.

Doesn't come together in every scene, but there's enough fun to go around.

[punishmentpark · 6/10 · 13 April 2015]

Mostly thanks to the BBC, I've come to know Omid Djalili as a funny, sympathetic loudmouth and that's why I was willing to give 'The infidel' a go. It all starts out pretty good, but the combination of drama and comedy becomes more and more awkward toward the end, and the part where the imam turns out to be a former pop star just didn't work for me at all - even if it based on one Yusuf Islam aka Cat Stevens.

The scenes between Djalili and Richard Schiff are quite funny, although the humour doesn't always work; the whole Bar Mitswa scene should have been left out completely. A lot of supporting roles were worthwhile, especially those by Miranda Hart (adoption agent), Matt Lucas (rabbi) and Leah Fatania (daughter).

Too bad about the downsides, but still good to see a little film like gets made and aired on the BBC, that's why I'm being lenient with my rating; 6 out of 10.

P.s.: one the best jokes was religion-free, by the way: Mahmud leaves his house and faces the camera. A 'wind' rises... he looks around mysteriously... the viewer imagines a UFO could be landing any minute...? No, it's a guy with a leaf-blower...

Poor and flat

[nicolaspiere · 4/10 · 8 February 2012]

I had high hopes for this film as I thought it would be a great clash of cultures comedy, especially with Omid Jalali as the star.

Regrettably, to my disappointment it fell very flat.

The film started off quite well and was humorous, but it soon became dry and felt like an old fashioned TV sketch. Hence, the camera was just filming dry witty dialogue exchanges of the same thing over and over again with limited change in camera angle, which made it boring.

Despite being fiction, the set up of the characters depicted were confusing and consequently hard to believe. Omid Jalali is supposed to be a London born Pakistani, despite being adopted from Jewish descent from a very young age. However, any Islamic references from Omid sounded very Arabic/middle eastern, which contrasted greatly with his family who were clearly British Pakistani and felt like they were non-Londoners particularly with the Northern Burke friend. Consequently, I wasn't sure if I was in Bradford or London.

Furthermore, I found it hugely Ironic that the fanatic Egyptian cleric sounded heavily Israeli!!! It was even more ironic that he was suppose to be Egyptian but had a daughter and wife that looked clearly Pakistani/Indian rather than Egyptian! Nothing wrong with make believe but all of it didn't gel and soured the movie.

If Omid Jalali's family was set up as a London Arabic/Persian family, I think this would have had a huge positive difference to the film by making it feel more real and funny! Mainly because this is what Omid knows and he could have exploited a lot of the day to day humour without having to make spoofed Jewish/Muslim references all the time that soon got dull.

The film also conveyed the impression that all Muslims were anti-Jewish and all Jewish people were anti-Muslim just because of the Israeli – Palestinian conflict. Consequently, I thought this was very two dimensional and unrealistic and it put me off the film.

Some positive points, the climax was quite entertaining and the first 10 minutes were good to watch. It also had a nice dramatic undertone as Omid Jalali goes on his quest for his roots. There were also humorous moments throughout, but they would only earn a smirk rather than laughter.

Overall, this could have been such a great film if it was done in a better way and I think it's poor performance at the box office reflects that. However, If you have a British Pakistani background, I'd suggest watching the film as you may enjoy it as it seem's more tailored for a British Pakistani audience. If you're easy going and enjoy dry British or ethnic humour you may also enjoy it.

However, if you're having a night in and you want a good comedy to enjoy, avoid this and pick up something like "Knocked Up" for guaranteed entertainment.

Funny!!

[poskooie · 8/10 · 19 March 2018]

Loved it. Worth the watch! Loved the back & forth between Omid Djalili & Richard Schiff!