The Infidel. Image shows from L to R: Mahmud Nasir (Omid Djalili), Policeman 2 (Jason Salkey). Copyright: Met Film / Slingshot Productions
The Infidel

The Infidel

  • 2010 film

Religious comedy about a Muslim man who discovers that he is both adopted and Jewish. Starring Omid Djalili and written by David Baddiel. Stars Omid Djalili, Miranda Hart, Richard Schiff, Yigal Naor, Stewart Scudamore and more.

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Key details

Genre
Film
Released
2010
Stars
Omid Djalili, Miranda Hart, Richard Schiff, Yigal Naor, Stewart Scudamore, James Floyd, Archie Panjabi, Leah Fatania and more
Writer
David Baddiel
Director
Josh Appignanesi
Producers
Stewart Le Marechal, Uzma Hasan, David Baddiel, Advind Ethan David, Omid Djalili, Cavan Ash, Jeremy Amias, Yoni Magid and Shahin Sobhani
Companies

Meet Mahmud Nasir (Omid Djalili). Loving husband, doting father and something of a "relaxed" Muslim.

Does the "F" word occasionally pass his lips? It's hardly worth mentioning. Does he say his prayers five times a day? Of course! Well, usually... Does he fast every day of Ramadan? Who's counting anyway?

He may not be the most observant, but in his heart he is as Muslim as it gets. But after his mother's death a discovery turns Mahmud's world upside down. He finds his birth certificate, which sets in motion a series of revelations: not only was he adopted at birth... but he's Jewish, and his original name was Solly Shimshillewitz.

Such a discovery would be hard to cope with at the best of times, but his son's girlfriend is about to become the step-daughter of hardline Egyptian Islamic preacher Arshad Al-Masri.

As Mahmud tumbles headlong into a full scale identity crisis, the only person he can turn to is Lenny (Richard Schiff): a drunk, bitter Jewish American cabbie who agrees to give him lessons in Jewishness, which start with how to dance like Topol. Oy vey.

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Additional details

Tagline
A Comedy of Ethnic Proportions
UK certificate
15
Duration
105 minutes
Box office
£2.2m
Production
Studio
Picture
Colour

Website links

Broadcast details

Most recent repeats
  • Sunday 19th July 2015 at 11:20pm on BBC2
  • Sunday 28th June 2015 at 1:00am on BBC2
  • Saturday 14th February 2015 at 1:00am on BBC2

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