UK
Udayan Prasad
Writer Hanif Kureishi, who first came to prominence with Stephen
Frears' My Beautiful Laundrette, and who had a critical hit with
the TV drama The Buddha of Suburbia, is back to form with My Son
the Fanatic, a contemporary comedy where fundamentalism meets
Western hedonism over the kitchen table in a British-Asian family
house. Kuresihi's career as a director got off to an inauspicious
start with London Kills Me, but here he leaves the direction to
the upcoming Udayan Prasad (Brothers in Trouble), with Chris
Curling of Zephyr Films producing for BBC Films.
My Son the Fanatic is a contemporary love story set in an industrial city in the North of Englnad amid a comic clash of generations and cultures. Parvez (veteran Indian actor Om Puri) is a taxi-driving man of the world who loves all things English, especially the local prostitute Bettina (Rachel Griffiths from Muriel's Wedding). But visiting German businessman Schitz (Stellan Skarsgard, on of the stars of last year's Cannes hit Breaking the Waves) also has plans for Bettina. Minoo (Gopi Desai) is Parvez's long-suffering wife, Farid (Akbar Kurtha) is Parvez's confused teenage son.
While Parvez's fellow immigrants have made money from the restaurant trade, he remains a lowly driver, working long hours for little money. Minoo is unsettled and Farid has become ultra religious, rebelling against what he sees as his father's immorality, and inviting a religious elder to share their home. When the fundamentalists rally to try to rid the streets of prostitutes, Parvez is forced to take sides.
According to Prasad, 'the film is about somebody whose life has turned into turmoil, and who is trying to come to terms with the way he's been living. I would describe it as being very funny, but at the same time it tackles a very serious subject in a daring way.' Nick Thomas
Prod co: A Zephyr Films production for BBC Films in association with UGC and the Arts Council of England
Exec prod: George Faber
Prod: Chris Curling
Dir: Udayan Prasad
Scr: Hanif Kureishi
Ph: Alan Almond
Prod des: Grenville Horner
Ed: David Gamble
Cast: Om Puri, Rachel Griffiths, Stellan Skarsgard, Akbar Kurtha, Gopi Desai, Harish Patel
Running time: 97mins
Int sales: UGC
