My Son the Fanatic (film)
Encyclopedia
My Son the Fanatic is a 1997
British
drama film
directed by Udayan Prasad. It was written
by Hanif Kureishi
from his short story My Son the Fanatic.
According to Rachel Donadio, a New York Times writer and editor, the film's theme is encapsulated in a pivotal scene:
1997 in film
-Events:* The original Star Wars trilogy's Special Editions are released.* Production begins on Star Wars Episode I: The Phantom Menace.* Titanic becomes the first film to gross US$1,000,000,000 at the box office making it the highest grossing film in history until Avatar broke the record in 2010.*...
British
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
drama film
Drama film
A drama film is a film genre that depends mostly on in-depth development of realistic characters dealing with emotional themes. Dramatic themes such as alcoholism, drug addiction, infidelity, moral dilemmas, racial prejudice, religious intolerance, poverty, class divisions, violence against women...
directed by Udayan Prasad. It was written
Screenwriter
Screenwriters or scriptwriters or scenario writers are people who write/create the short or feature-length screenplays from which mass media such as films, television programs, Comics or video games are based.-Profession:...
by Hanif Kureishi
Hanif Kureishi
Hanif Kureishi CBE is an English playwright, screenwriter and filmmaker, novelist and short story writer. The themes of his work have touched on topics of race, nationalism, immigration, and sexuality...
from his short story My Son the Fanatic.
Plot
The plot of the film revolves around Parvez (Om Puri), a Pakistani-born taxi driver and a tolerant, secular Muslim. His life takes an unexpected dark turn when his son Farid converts to fundementalist Islam, leading to a family breakdown and social conflict.According to Rachel Donadio, a New York Times 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 PuriOm PuriOm Puri is an Indian actor who has appeared in both mainstream Indian films and art films. His credits also include appearances in British and American films. He has received an honorary OBE.-Early life:...
as Parvez: an alcoholic Pakistani taxi driver who after living in the UKUnited KingdomThe United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
for many years is still working hard to make a living in his taxi whilst others who migrated with him have become wealthy.. - Rachel GriffithsRachel GriffithsRachel Anne Griffiths is an Australian film and television actress who came to prominence in the 1994 film Muriel's Wedding and her Academy Award nominated performance in the 1997 film Hilary and Jackie....
as Bettina/Sandra: a prostitute who goes by the name of Bettina whom has become friends with Parvez. Her real name is Sandra. - Akbar KurthaAkbar KurthaAkbar Kurtha is an actor born in India and living in England.Since 1993 Kurtha has played several roles in his native England and in the United States. He first appeared in the 1993 film Bhaji on the Beach in the role of Majit, and then played the lead role of “Farid” in the film My Son the...
as Farid: Parvez's grown-up son and 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 radicalised. - Stellan SkarsgårdStellan SkarsgårdStellan John Skarsgård is a Swedish actor, known internationally for his film roles in Angels & Demons, Breaking the Waves, The Hunt for Red October, Ronin, Good Will Hunting, Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Man's Chest, Pirates of the Caribbean: At World's End, Dominion: Prequel to the Exorcist,...
as Schitz: a German businessman who makes use of Parvez and Bettina's professional services. - Gopi Desai as Minoo: Parvez's wife and mother of their son Farid.
- Harish PatelHarish PatelHarish is an Indian actor. He has a relative called Himesh Patel, he is Tamwar in EastEnders. Although mainly associated with the stage, he has also appeared in comedy films and on television. He began performing at the age of seven, when he played both male and female parts in the Hindu epic...
as Fizzy - Sarah-Jane PottsSarah-Jane PottsSarah-Jane Potts , is an English actress, best known for her roles as Saint in Sugar Rush, as Ellie, Abs' on/off girlfriend on Casualty and as Jo Lipsett in Waterloo Road. Potts is also the sister of actor Andrew-Lee Potts, best known for his part as Connor Temple in Primeval...
as Madeleine Fingerhut - Geoffrey Bateman as Chief Inspector Fingerhut
- Judi Jones as Mrs Fingerhut
Nominations
- 2000, Independent Spirit Award: best foreign film: Udayan Prasad
- 1998, British Independent Film Festival: best screenplay: Hanif KureishiHanif KureishiHanif Kureishi CBE is an English playwright, screenwriter and filmmaker, novelist and short story writer. The themes of his work have touched on topics of race, nationalism, immigration, and sexuality...
, best British actress: Rachel GriffithsRachel GriffithsRachel Anne Griffiths is an Australian film and television actress who came to prominence in the 1994 film Muriel's Wedding and her Academy Award nominated performance in the 1997 film Hilary and Jackie.... - 1998, Brussels International Film Festival, best European feature: Udayan Prasad
- 1997, Dinard Festival of British Cinema: Udayan Prasad