Is there a funny side to religion?
|11:31 UK time, Monday, 12 April 2010
This Muslim website loves it.
'...in a world where new Muslim stereotypes include fiery underwear and rage against teddy bears, perhaps a new perspective is just what we need,' it says.
But others like this Jewish website, fail to see the funny side of a new movie called Infidel which tells the story of a Muslim man discovering he is Jewish by birth.
The film has the potential for total disaster and outcry. According to The Jewish Telegraph, it's just about saved by an intelligent script and non intrusive direction.
I went to watch the film over the weekend and I thought it was an impressive attempt at endorsing religious unity, albeit bordering on the cheesy. I know many of you haven't seen the movie yet -in fact it hasn't even been released in some counties as has been pointed out on twitter, but the issue of religions being able to laugh at themselves is rich territory for us at WHYS. Is it a sign of maturity to be able to laugh at your own sacred beliefs? Here's what the Infidel team have to say about it.
Director, David Baddiel has been Tweeting about the reaction his movie has been getting here.
And a new Facebook poll has been asking Which religion is the funniest? Have a read of some of the jokes people have been sharing. A couple pointed fun at my own religion and I have to admit they did make me smile. The entries have been shortlisted by public vote, and the Infidel team will call a winner. They've had 1,513 votes case for over 70 jokes.
According to this source, film houses in Israel are reluctant to show the film, in contrast to the buzz surrounding it in the UAE. Clearly, not everyone finds the film funny.
Baddiel has been reacting to his critics who aren't impressed with the film, like the Jewish Chronicle.
'...a fog of condescension hangs over the entire project: none of the scenes of working-class or lower middle-class life, either Muslim or Jewish, ring true. ...The Infidel looks and feels cheap and shoddy, deepening the feeling that it should have been a series of TV-show sketches rather than a big-screen feature.'
Is religion a laughing matter? Or does comedy disrespect religion?
