Pakistani-British cabbie Mahmud Nasir (comedian Omid Djalili) may not be the most observant Muslim, but deep down he is a true believer. After his mother dies, his life is turned upside down when he learns he was adopted—but most scandalous is that his birth mother was Jewish! And his given name was Solly Shimshillewitz! To reconnect with his real father in time, he has to become "more Jewish." The only person he can turn to is Lenny (Richard Schiff, The West Wing), a drunken Jewish cabbie that lives across the street. As Lenny teaches Mahmud how to be Jewish, Mahmud tumbles into a full-scale identity crisis, and a true comedy of religious errors unfolds.

Working directly to build modern-day Muslim and Jewish stereotypes and then breaking them down with humor and wit, writer David Baddiel and director Josh Appignanesi have crafted a comedy perfectly suited for this day and age. Iranian-born comedian Djalili is physically and emotionally a true funnyman. Although set in an East London suburb, the story is universal and the message is simple: Inside we're all the same, no matter what religious veils we wear.

Josh Appignanesi and Josh Appignanesi