Prismark10 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.

MartinHafer "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!

stewart-dunbar I watched this on BBC I player last evening (Jan 2012) as it had been shown on the BBC. Enjoyed it immensely, although some of the lesser characters seemed to be quite stereotypical. The let down for me was the very limited exploration of the Jewish community and how they would accept (or otherwise) a person with this background. That said a polished performance from Matt Lucas. Omid Djaili gives real credence to the main character and is very believable, very much the real star of the Movie. David Badiel (Author) has done a great job on the script and makes the dialogue more than believable. I recommend this as viewing for all despite some of the flowery language (very much in context) I would suggest some of the Dialogue (racist) is occasionally used for dramatic/comedy effect rather than as necessary to the plot, although it is never over the top, and would be hard pressed to be taken as seriously offensive by anyone except the most extreme.Enjoyable and thought provoking worth the watch.

Argemaluco When I saw the trailers of The Infidel, I thought that it was going to be a crude comedy which wanted to exploit the controversy of the Jewish-Muslim conflict in order to attract attention. However, I decided to watch it because of the various positive reviews I read on the Internet, and I am glad I did it, because even though The Infidel has an undoubtedly tabloid aspect, it also is a brilliant comedy with a very funny screenplay, interesting characters and a valid message which might not be shared by everyone, but which at least offers a conciliatory point of view about the previously mentioned conflict.To start with, I liked the agility and consistence of the humor, as well as the surprising variety of topics exploited by the screenplay in order to generate laughs. There are obviously many references to the dispute between Israel and Palestine, to the Islamic extremists and their "jihad" (whose slogans of racial extermination sound very different when they are said by a 4-year-old girl) and of course, all the imaginable clichés about the Jewish culture ("they have a big nose and they like the money"). But there is also place for hilarious mentions of Seinfeld, the Protocols of Zion, Osama Bin Laden and Fiddler on the Roof.I suppose that some people would feel offended by the sense of humor from The Infidel. Even if they are orthodox Jews who do not approve of the burning of yarmulkes with a funny intention, or Muslims who feel themselves unfairly portrayed as violent and intolerant extremists, I know that there will be undoubtedly someone who disapproves of the film's methods, as good as its intentions are. I think that The Infidel features positive and negative aspects from both religions on equal measure...and it's up to every spectator how he/she will take that. And besides, I also think that it is difficult to take the religious insults or comments about racial purity seriously when they come from the mouth of such likable and expressive actors. Omid Djalil is perfect as the overwhelmed Mahmud. Richard Schiff brings an equally excellent and funny performance as a Jewish North American taxi driver. And Archie Panjabi also brings a very good work as the main character's wife.I have to point out the fact that I enjoyed The Infidel very much without having deep knowledge about the cultures and religions it represents; so, I think it is more appropriate to consider it as an great comedy which offers an interesting moral, and not as a revisionist History lesson nor as a manipulative religious pamphlet.