Ember's analysis
- Pacing
- Brisk
- Intensity
- Moderate
- Complexity
- Easy to follow
- Violence
- Mild
- irreverent
- witty
- warm
- lazy sunday
- group movie night
What critics said
Critics generally found the film an engaging but uneven culture-clash comedy whose strong central premise and comic performance were tempered by broad satire.
What sets it apart
May contain story progression spoilers
Mahmud's discovery of Jewish parentage places him between Muslim and Jewish communities while the film treats both cultures with irreverent humor.
Mahmud learns he was adopted and born to Jewish parents, forcing him to reconsider his identity and his place within his family.
Mahmud hides his birth history from his family while Arshad investigates him, creating escalating dramatic irony around the concealed revelation.
Mahmud's public declaration of Jewish identity threatens his relationship with his family and alienates him from both religious communities.
Films like The Infidel, and why
East Is East
culture-clash comedy balancing religious identity, family expectations, and social satire
My Big Fat Greek Wedding
warm, irreverent immigrant-family comedy built around generational and cultural conflict
Four Lions
satirical comedy about religious extremism and the absurdity of communal identity
Bend It Like Beckham
identity-driven comedy-drama about belonging across competing cultural communities
Movie Details
- Director
- Josh Appignanesi
- Release Date
- 2010-02-18
- Runtime
- 105 min
- Rating
- 6.1 / 10 (132)
Cast
- Omid Djalili
- Richard Schiff
- Archie Panjabi
- Igal Naor
- Stewart Scudamore
- Mina Anwar
- James Floyd
- Leah Fatania
- Stuart Antony
- Scott Walters
Where to watch in United States
- Rent
- Amazon Video, Google Play Movies, YouTube, Fandango At Home
- Buy
- Amazon Video, Fandango At Home
Streaming options come from TMDB and change over time.
Common questions
- What is The Infidel about?
- A mildly irreverent London family comedy follows a secular Muslim father whose discovery of his Jewish birth identity upends his plans to secure his son's marriage.
- What is The Infidel like to watch?
- Ember's analysis rates the pacing of The Infidel as brisk, its intensity as moderate and its storytelling as easy to follow.
- Is The Infidel violent?
- Only mildly. Ember rates the violence in The Infidel as mild.
- What did critics think of The Infidel?
- Critics generally found the film an engaging but uneven culture-clash comedy whose strong central premise and comic performance were tempered by broad satire.
- Which films are like The Infidel?
- Films with a similar feel include East Is East, My Big Fat Greek Wedding, Four Lions, and Bend It Like Beckham.
- How long is The Infidel?
- The Infidel runs 105 minutes.
- Where can I watch The Infidel?
- In United States, The Infidel is available to rent or buy from Amazon Video, Google Play Movies, YouTube, Fandango At Home.
