''My Son the Fanatic'' is a 1997 British
comedy drama
Comedy drama, also known by the portmanteau ''dramedy'', is a genre of dramatic works that combines elements of comedy and Drama (film and television), drama. The modern, scripted-television examples tend to have more humorous bits than simple co ...
film directed by
Udayan Prasad Udayan Prasad (born Sevagram, 4 February 1953) is an Indian-born British television and film director. He is best known for his films ''Brothers in Trouble'' (1995) and ''My Son the Fanatic'' (1997), the latter based on a short story by Hanif Kures ...
. It was written by
Hanif Kureishi
Hanif Kureishi (born 5 December 1954) is a British playwright, screenwriter, filmmaker and novelist of South Asian and English descent. In 2008, ''The Times'' included Kureishi in its list of the 50 greatest British writers since 1945.
Early l ...
as an adaptation of his short story ''
My Son the Fanatic
''My Son the Fanatic'' is a short story written by Hanif Kureishi first published in ''The New Yorker'' in 1994. It was reprinted in Kureishi's 1997 collection of short stories, ''Love in a Blue Time,'' and also as a supplement to some editi ...
''.
Plot
The plot of the film revolves around Parvez, a
Pakistani-born taxi driver and a tolerant,
secular Muslim. His life takes an unexpected dark turn when his son Farid converts to
fundamentalist Islam, leading to a family breakdown and social conflict.
According to Rachel Donadio, ''
The New York Times
''The New York Times'' (''the Times'', ''NYT'', or the Gray Lady) is a daily newspaper based in New York City with a worldwide readership reported in 2020 to comprise a declining 840,000 paid print subscribers, and a growing 6 million paid ...
'' writer and editor, the film's theme is encapsulated in a pivotal scene:
One of the most revealing insights into Britain's recent social history comes early in ''My Son the Fanatic'', Hanif Kureishi's tender and darkly prescient 1997 film. It’s morning in an unnamed city in northern England, and Parvez, a secular Pakistani immigrant taxi driver brilliantly portrayed by Om Puri, watches Farid, his increasingly devout college-age son, sell his electric guitar. "Where is that going?" Parvez asks Farid as the buyer drives off. "You used to love making a terrible noise with these instruments!" Farid, played by Akbar Kurtha, looks at his father with irritation. "You always said there were more important things than 'Stairway to Heaven'" he says impatiently in his thick northern English accent. "You couldn't have been more right".
Cast
*
Om Puri as Parvez: an alcoholic Pakistani taxi driver who after living in the
UK for many years is still working hard to make a living in his taxi whilst others who migrated with him have become wealthy.
*
Rachel Griffiths
Rachel Anne Griffiths (born in 1968) is an Australian actress. Raised primarily in Melbourne, she began her acting career appearing on the Australian series ''Secrets'' before being cast in a supporting role in the comedy ''Muriel's Wedding'' ...
as Bettina/Sandra: a woman who goes by the name of Bettina who does sex work and has become friends with Parvez. Her real name is Sandra.
*Akbar Kurtha as Farid: Parvez's grown-up son who is to be engaged to the local Chief Inspector's daughter, Madeleine Fingerhut; upon discovering that his future father-in-law detests his family, he turns to Islam and is radicalized.
*
Stellan Skarsgård
Stellan Skarsgård (, ; born 13 June 1951) is a Swedish actor. He is known for his collaborations with director Lars von Trier appearing in ''Breaking the Waves'' (1996), ''Dancer in the Dark'' (2000), '' Dogville'' (2007), ''Melancholia'' (201 ...
as Mr. Schitz: a German businessman who makes use of both Parvez's and Bettina's professional services.
*Gopi Desai as Minoo: Parvez's wife, and mother of their son Farid.
*
Harish Patel
Harish Patel (born 5 July 1953) is an Indian character actor. He has appeared in a variety of Hindi films, but in recent years has begun to appear in American projects like reimagination of '' Four Weddings and a Funeral'' on Hulu. His latest p ...
as Fizzy Parvez's best friend, who, after borrowing a small sum of money from Parvez, made a business for himself and is quite wealthy.
*
Sarah-Jane Potts
Sarah-Jane Potts (born 30 August 1976) is an English actress, best known for her roles as Saint (Sarah) in '' Sugar Rush'', Ellie, Abs' on/off girlfriend in '' Casualty'' and Jo Lipsett in '' Waterloo Road''. Potts is the sister of actor Andre ...
as Madeleine Fingerhut, Farid's former fiancée.
*Geoffrey Bateman as Chief Inspector Fingerhut, Madeline's father.
*Judi Jones as Mrs Fingerhut:, Madeline's mother.
*
Rowena King
Rowena in the Matter of Britain was the daughter of the purported Anglo-Saxon chief Hengist and wife of Vortigern, " King of the Britons". Presented as a beautiful '' femme fatale'', she won her people the Kingdom of Kent through her treachero ...
as Margot
Critical reception
On
Rotten Tonatoes, ''My Son the Fanatic'' has an approval rating of 79% based on 28 reviews.
Peter Travers of ''
Rolling Stone
''Rolling Stone'' is an American monthly magazine that focuses on music, politics, and popular culture. It was founded in San Francisco, San Francisco, California, in 1967 by Jann Wenner, and the music critic Ralph J. Gleason. It was first kno ...
'' wrote Parvez "draws most on our sympathies in this moving, painfully funny film. In Om Puri’s award-caliber performance, the price of happiness is rendingly observed."
Awards
Nominations
*2000,
Independent Spirit Award
The Independent Spirit Awards (abbreviated Spirit Awards and originally known as the FINDIE or Friends of Independents Awards), founded in 1984, are awards dedicated to independent filmmakers. Winners were typically presented with acrylic glas ...
: Best Foreign Film:
Udayan Prasad Udayan Prasad (born Sevagram, 4 February 1953) is an Indian-born British television and film director. He is best known for his films ''Brothers in Trouble'' (1995) and ''My Son the Fanatic'' (1997), the latter based on a short story by Hanif Kures ...
*1998,
British Independent Film Awards
The British Independent Film Awards (BIFA) is an organisation that celebrates, supports and promotes British independent cinema and filmmaking talent in United Kingdom. Nominations for the annual awards ceremony are announced in early November, ...
: Best Screenplay:
Hanif Kureishi
Hanif Kureishi (born 5 December 1954) is a British playwright, screenwriter, filmmaker and novelist of South Asian and English descent. In 2008, ''The Times'' included Kureishi in its list of the 50 greatest British writers since 1945.
Early l ...
, Best British Actress:
Rachel Griffiths
Rachel Anne Griffiths (born in 1968) is an Australian actress. Raised primarily in Melbourne, she began her acting career appearing on the Australian series ''Secrets'' before being cast in a supporting role in the comedy ''Muriel's Wedding'' ...
*1998,
Brussels International Film Festival, Best European Feature: Udayan Prasad
*1997, Dinard Festival of British Cinema: Udayan Prasad
Wins
*1998,
Brussels International Film Festival, Best Actor:
Om Puri
References
External links
*
*
{{DEFAULTSORT:My Son the Fanatic
1997 comedy-drama films
1997 independent films
British comedy-drama films
British Pakistani films
Films about father–son relationships
Films based on short fiction
Films by Desi directors
Films with screenplays by Hanif Kureishi
Films scored by Stephen Warbeck
Films about immigration
1990s English-language films
Films directed by Udayan Prasad
1990s British films