In its purest form, the job of the artist and the job of the filmmaker is to explore the intricacies of the human condition. However, some would say that there's nothing new under the sun, that everything that's worth saying has been said a million times over. The human condition is essentially the same as it always has been.
Consequently, except for some wonderfully rare occasions, everything that could be said about the condition of the human spirit has been said at some time or other. For this reason, art, and more specifically, film, will deal with the same themes as long as people care to create such works.
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| Courtesy of Miramax Om Puri and Akbar Kurtha play Pakistani men who come to England in "My Son the Fanatic." |
And those films which are most compelling are those films which explore universal themes from unique and thought provoking angles, from angles that will challenge the viewer and cause him or her to take a new look at an old topic.
"My Son the Fanatic" is a film which looks at very old issues with very new eyes. And for this reason, it distinguishes itself as an exceptional film and an innovative exploration of human relationships. "My Son the Fanatic" is the story of a man and his family. It's a story of yearning, a story of thirst. It's a story of emptiness and of fulfillment. It's a story of fulfillment sought after in various places, and found by unexpected means.
Parvez, the main character, is a middle-aged and imperfectly westernized Pakistani man who moved his family to Great Britain in search of a life of greater opportunity. As time passes, though, and as his family ages and matures, they become disillusioned with the vision of England that he possesses. All deal with this disillusionment differently, but Parvez's son's efforts present the most intriguing problems for the family's strength and unity.
In blatant opposition to his father's anglophilia, he abandons his engagement to a beautiful British-born girl and finds solace within the confines of a reactionary, right-wing sect of Muslims looking to strengthen their roots in British soil. The film presents its audience with an inversion of oft-explored generational and cultural conflicts, displaying the younger generation as hanging onto tradition while the older searches for new frontiers.
Furthermore, while Parvez's son turns away from new love and youthful passion, Parvez, to the detriment of his very classical marriage, discovers these emotions in the arms of an unlikely woman. In this way, "My Son the Fanatic" isn't just a trailblazing look at tradition and rebellion, it's a unique but extremely beautiful romance.
"My Son the Fanatic" isn't a movie to be viewed for its American star power for it's driven by no such force. It's a film produced by the BBC, and most, if not all of the actors and actresses will be foreign to viewers in the United States. However, all give strong performances.
These are highlighted by the film's two leads, Om Puri and Oscar-nominee Rachael Griffiths, who build for the audience a beautiful relationship, effusing an exquisitely compassionate on-screen love.
"My Son the Fanatic" isn't a perfect film, as if any film could be. At times, the dialogue is awkward. At times, the plot takes turns that are implausible at best. At times, the performances of the supporting actors are forced. But these are minor detractors.
It is a feat worthy of note when a film deals with a difficult topic in a way that does justice to its exigency. However, it's even more impressive when a film does such a respectable job in a way that has not been done before, in a way that sheds new light on an ageless topic. "My Son the Fanatic" is just such a film. It explores the human condition admirably, and is a breath of fresh air in this age where the commonplace has become the standard fare.
09-20-99
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