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The Infidel

  • 20102010
  • TV-PGTV-PG
  • 1h 45m
IMDb RATING
6.4/10
6.7K
YOUR RATING
  • Cast & crew
  • User reviews
  • Trivia
  • IMDbPro
The Infidel (2010)
Trailer for The Infidel
Play trailer2:03
3 Videos
35 Photos
  • Comedy
  • Drama

An identity crisis comedy centred on Mahmud Nasir, successful business owner, and salt of the earth East End Muslim who discovers that he's adopted - and Jewish.An identity crisis comedy centred on Mahmud Nasir, successful business owner, and salt of the earth East End Muslim who discovers that he's adopted - and Jewish.An identity crisis comedy centred on Mahmud Nasir, successful business owner, and salt of the earth East End Muslim who discovers that he's adopted - and Jewish.

IMDb RATING
6.4/10
6.7K
YOUR RATING
  • Director
    • Josh Appignanesi
  • Writer
    • David Baddiel
  • Stars
    • Omid Djalili
    • Richard Schiff
    • Archie Panjabi
Top credits
  • Director
    • Josh Appignanesi
  • Writer
    • David Baddiel
  • Stars
    • Omid Djalili
    • Richard Schiff
    • Archie Panjabi
  • See production, box office & company info
    • 41User reviews
    • 66Critic reviews
    • 57Metascore
  • See more at IMDbPro
    • Awards
      • 1 win & 2 nominations

    Videos3

    The Infidel
    Trailer 2:03
    The Infidel
    The Infidel
    Clip 0:40
    The Infidel
    The Infidel
    Clip 1:46
    The Infidel

    Photos35

    Omid Djalili, Tracy-Ann Oberman, and Natasha Jenssen in The Infidel (2010)
    The Infidel (2010)
    Archie Panjabi in The Infidel (2010)
    Archie Panjabi in The Infidel (2010)
    The Infidel (2010)
    Archie Panjabi in The Infidel (2010)
    The Infidel (2010)
    The Infidel (2010)
    The Infidel (2010)
    The Infidel (2010)
    Archie Panjabi in The Infidel (2010)
    Archie Panjabi in The Infidel (2010)

    Top cast

    Edit
    Omid Djalili
    Omid Djalili
    • Mahmud Nasiras Mahmud Nasir
    Richard Schiff
    Richard Schiff
    • Lenny Goldbergas Lenny Goldberg
    Archie Panjabi
    Archie Panjabi
    • Saamiya Nasiras Saamiya Nasir
    Igal Naor
    Igal Naor
    • Arshad El-Masrias Arshad El-Masri
    Stewart Scudamore
    Stewart Scudamore
    • Tariqas Tariq
    James Krishna Floyd
    James Krishna Floyd
    • Gary Pageas Gary Page
    • (as James Floyd)
    Leah Fatania
    • Nabi Nasiras Nabi Nasir
    Stuart Antony
    • Drummeras Drummer
    Scott Walters
    • Delivery Guyas Delivery Guy
    Mina Anwar
    Mina Anwar
    • Munaas Muna
    Amit Shah
    Amit Shah
    • Rashid Nasiras Rashid Nasir
    Soraya Radford
    Soraya Radford
    • Uzmaas Uzma
    Ravin J. Ganatra
    Ravin J. Ganatra
    • Fahadas Fahad
    • (as Ravin Ganatra)
    Christian Lees
    Christian Lees
    • Bar Mitzvah Twin Louisas Bar Mitzvah Twin Louis
    Jonah Lees
    Jonah Lees
    • Bar Mitzah Twin Sammias Bar Mitzah Twin Sammi
    Miranda Hart
    Miranda Hart
    • Mrs. Keyesas Mrs. Keyes
    Chris Wilson
    Chris Wilson
    • Security Guardas Security Guard
    • (as Karl Wilson)
    Niraj Naik
    • Keyboard Playeras Keyboard Player
    • Director
      • Josh Appignanesi
    • Writer
      • David Baddiel
    • Production, box office & more at IMDbPro
    • All cast & crew

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    6.3
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    Storyline

    Edit
    Mahmud Nasir lives in a London suburb with his pretty wife Saamiya and their two children, Rashid and Nabi. His son plans to marry Uzma, the stepdaughter of Egyptian-born Arshad Al-Masri, a so-called 'Hate Cleric' from Waziristan, Pakistan. Mahmud is not exactly a devout Muslim: he drinks alcohol and does not pray five times, but does agree that he will appease Arshad, without whose approval the marriage cannot take place. Shortly thereafter, while going over his recently deceased-mother's documents, Mahmud discovers that he was adopted, his birth parents were Jewish, and his name is actually Solly Shimshillewitz. He conceals this information from his family, and with help from his neighbor Leonard Goldberg, tries to understand the Jews and their religion. He even locates his birth father, who is on his deathbed in a nursing home. Mahmud does not know that Arshad has been checking into his background, has videotaped him setting fire to a Jewish cap during a protest, and has already approved of him, despite his letter to the media about 'moderate Muslims'. But on the day of the meeting with Arshad and Uzma, - Mahmud finds his life drastically changed when the Police will attend to arrest him, and he is forced to publicly proclaim that he is Jewish--a move that will not only alienate him from his family but also from both the Jewish and Muslim communities. —rAjOo (gunwanti@hotmail.com)
    • cell phone video
    • cell phone
    • jewish
    • muslim
    • religion
    • 46 more
    • Plot summary
    • Plot synopsis
    • Taglines
      • Is It a Muslim? Is It a Jew? No! It's...
    • Genres
      • Comedy
      • Drama
    • Certificate
      • TV-PG
    • Parents guide

    Did you know

    Edit
    • Trivia
      David Baddiel: The movie's writer can be seen on the TV show The Wright Stuff (2000), which Mahmud watches.
    • Goofs
      After Mahmud sees that Lenny has parked his taxi cab on his parking cones, he begins to walk over to Lenny's house to confront him about it. On the way, he walks past a car and the camera crew is reflected in its side.
    • Quotes

      [Mahmud tells Lenny his real name]

      Lenny Goldberg: Solly Shimshillewitz? Why didn't they just call you "Jewe-jew-jew-jew-jew" and be done with it?

    • Alternate versions
      Mahmud's road-rage scene from the outset has been sound-dubbed for strong language (UK video version), with the C-word being uttered only once. In the UK cinema print, Mahmud shouts the C-word many times towards the taxi driver.
    • Connections
      Featured in Breakfast: Episode dated 6 April 2010 (2010)
    • Soundtracks
      Close Your Eyes
      Performed by Joel Freedman

      Written by David Gavurin & Harriet Wheeler

      Produced by Howie B.

      Engineered by Ben Thackeray'

      Published by Warner Chappell Music Limited

    User reviews41

    Review
    Top review
    7/10
    Halal/Kosher cook off
    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".
    helpful•43
    10
    • A_Gooner
    • Apr 8, 2010

    Details

    Edit
    • Release date
      • June 4, 2010 (Ireland)
    • Country of origin
      • United Kingdom
    • Official site
      • Official site
    • Language
      • English
    • Also known as
      • Infidel
    • Filming locations
      • London, England, UK
    • Production companies
      • Slingshot Productions
      • Ombadsman
      • The Salt Company International
    • See more company credits at IMDbPro

    Box office

    Edit
    • Gross worldwide
      • $2,817,080
    See detailed box office info on IMDbPro

    Technical specs

    Edit
    • Runtime
      1 hour 45 minutes
    • Color
      • Color
    • Sound mix
      • Dolby Digital
    • Aspect ratio
      • 1.85 : 1

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