HASSAN AND MORCOS

(Egypt, 2008, d. Rami Imam)

A film of great, good intentions. However, it relies on very broad characterisations, more than a touch of the stereotype, dashes of slapstick and performances which range from the hammy (the son) to the dignified (Omar Sharif and Adel Imam as the Muslim and the Coptic priest respectively).

There are plenty of films with mixed up identities and misunderstandings. And, in religious situations, we have had Sister Act and the Iranian, The Lizard, where a criminal is mistaken for a. Hassan and Marcos is a comic tale of two religious families caught up in hatred and intolerance who go into a kind of witness protection program – but each is disguised as the opposite religion, the Copts as Muslims and the Muslims as Christians.

Since the early part of the film shows groups who campaign for religious tolerance and fostert live and let live (despite grumblings by each side that the other has more privileges), the sight of the Coptic priest mistaken for an Imam and having to interpret the law and the Muslim bewildered by Christian rituals make for interfaith humour.

And, if you were concocting a popular entertainment to promote understanding and tolerance, what better and easier to do than add a Romeo and Juliet situation? Christian son in love with Muslim daughter each thinking secretly that the other is of their faith.

The Egyptian settings are quite colourful. The atmosphere of Christian and Muslim worship and tradition is maintained. And there is a symbolic ending as viciously hostile crowds indulge in religious hate violence and the now harmonious families walk arm in arm through the mayhem.

Interesting that Egypt should make the effort to produce a film on interfaith understanding and that Omar Sharif should return home to be in it.