Courting both success and scandal in its native Iran, The Lizard is a winning religious satire. Its title character is Reza (Iranian comedy god Parviz Parastouie), a professional thief who's sent to a jail where the warden intends to put him on 'a spiritual diet'. However, our anti-hero finds enlightenment on his own terms when he flees prison in 'borrowed' robes and winds up as prayer leader in a village - which is where this farcical but thoughtful film delivers some divine laughs.

The scenes in which the new imam about town preaches to a rapt audience are the movie's funniest, as Reza tackles everything from space travel to Pulp Fiction and uses a burglary metaphor to illustrate his point that there are many paths leading to God ("If you don't have a master key you may climb the wall and use a rope").

Such irreverence drew the anger of Iran's clergy, who pressured the government to ban the picture. Yet, like Monty Python's Life Of Brian, The Lizard isn't so much mocking religion as attitudes towards it, especially hardline ones. Everyone should have access to the Lord, the film says - even fugitive con artists.

"A STEADY STREAM OF QUALITY GAGS"

What's more, with its breezy pace, engaging turns and steady stream of quality gags, the movie makes a spirited bid to broaden Iranian cinema's international appeal beyond the arthouse. While it might not seem so outrageous to Western viewers, fans of thought-prodding comedy shouldn't let The Lizard slither away.

In Aranian with English subtitles.