My Son the Fanatic

Combining affecting romance with sharp political and psychological insights, Hanif Kureishi's script (from his own short story) centres on Pakistani cabbie Parvez (Om Puri), whose respect and love for most things English - including local prostitute Bettina (Griffiths) - brings him into terrible conflict with his teenage son, an Islamic fundamentalist who contemptuously views the ways of his family's adopted northern English city as decadent, depraved and disposable. Thematically rich, and never opting for simplistic polarities in its exploration of the clash of cultures, generations and ethical beliefs, the film overcomes its initial uncertainties of tone to mount a very moving study of a man in crisis; Puri is terrific, especially in his scenes with the excellent Griffiths.