# My Son the Fanatic (1998)

### reviewed by
Akiva Gottlieb

    My Son The Fanatic **1/2

    rated R
    Miramax Films
    86 minutes
    starring Om Puri, Rachel Griffiths, Stellan Skarsgard, Akbar Kurtha, Gopi
    Desai
    written by Hanif Kureishi
    directed by Udayan Prasad

"My Son The Fanatic", the latest from director Udayan Prasad, is an occasionally comedic drama that tackles an important subject, but does so incoherently. Om Puri gives an exceptional performance as Parvez, a Pakistani cab driver in Northern England whose son has just called off his wedding to an Englishwoman because of his budding Islam Fundamentalist beliefs. Parvez, who recieves most of his business by driving around prostitutes(most notably Bettina, played by Rachel Griffiths), puts up his argument for British conformity against his son's Muslim idealism. The interesting thing about "My Son The Fanatic" is that both arguments are convincing. But while the film's conflict is a relevant one, the film itself is poorly wrought. Despite a few powerful scenes, "My Son The Fanatic" is largely dull and uninviting. The elements of comedy that are worked it seemed forced and unnecessary, since the theme of the film is decidedly downbeat. Director Udayan Prasad has decided to forget about style and structure and let the actors do their work. Om Puri brings a lot of emotion to his role as the torn father; while bit players Rachel Griffiths and Stellan Skarsgard seem merely competent in his presence. "My Son The Fanatic" presents many moral questions, and in a better-made film, they would have been answered.

a capsule review by Akiva Gottlieb, The Teenage Movie Critic akiva@excite.com http://teenagemoviecritic.8m.com

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