Alles koscher! (The Infidel) 
U.K.
2010
Opening 30 Jun 2011
Directed by:
Josh Appignanesi
Writing credits:
David Baddiel
Principal actors:
Omid Djalili, Richard Schiff, Archie Panjabi, Yigal Naor, Stewart Scudamore
Mahmud Nasir (Omid Djalili) is an easygoing family man, owner of a car service in London and � as he likes to think � a reasonably devout Muslim. That is until he finds an adoption agreement among the papers of his recently deceased mother, and a visit to the not-too-cooperative registry office also confirms that he was born Jewish: �Solly Shimshillewitz�. As if these revelations weren�t enough, problems keep mounting.
His son (Amit Shah) may only marry his bride if her fanatical-Muslim-cleric stepfather can be assured that the Nasirs are �proper Muslims�. Clearly now is not the time to let his family in on the news. It will be Lenny, the Jewish cab driver and neighbor of Mahmud�s late mother, who finds out first. When Mahmud arrives to clear his mother�s flat he finds that Lenny (Richard Schiff) has purposely blocked his way. Mahmud erupts in anger garnished in derogative terms; accused of being anti-Semitic, he defends himself, blurting out the secret. Lenny helps track down his father, but Mr. Shimshillewitz is near death and a zealous Rabbi forbids Mahmud to visit him until he has learned more about Judaism. He begs Lenny � a secular Jew � for instructions. As time is of the essence, Mahmud has to learn on the fly, i.e., at a Bar Mitzvah. A treacherous training ground! Too much to prove to too many people at once � for no good reason at all. Mahmud studies the Bible and the Koran and finds more similarities than differences; sort of like between Lenny and him: one has a car service � the other is a cab driver � �same difference�. To be prepared for any situation he literally wears two hats: a yarmulke under a kufi; naturally there is a disaster waiting to happen.
As Richard Schiff (Lenny) put it: �The script was dealing with a subject matter that deserves to be made fun with, namely the religious separation people impose on each other ��. This is a serious and sensitive subject shown in an entertaining and funny way, moving effortlessly between serious, slapstick and stand-up comedy; especially delightful Omid Dajili and Richard Schiff in their exchanges. (Carola A)
