Film Review: The Reluctant Fundamentalist

Director: Mira Nair

A political thriller which looks to examine some of the roots of religious fundamentalism and its disdain for the United States. The film is based on the novel of the same name by Mohsin Hamid who wrote the novel in 2010, there's no evidence to confirm that this is based on a true story. The film hopes to lift the lid on the other side of the argument with regards to terrorism and extremism amongst Muslims.

Changez witnessing the September 11th attacks on TV

Changez (Riz Ahmed) meets Bobby (Liev Schreiber) in a restaurant in Lahore to discuss his life in America and his beliefs. They play a game of cat and mouse as they both try to work out what the other is up to, Bobby wants to know if Changez time in America has turned him to religious extremism and Changez believes Bobby might be working for the CIA. Changez tells the story of his time in America at Princeton University and with a top job as a Financial Analyst on Wall Street, but his time in America changes after 9/11 when he is subject to prejudice for his looks and nationality.

The plot of an older Changez telling the story of how he got to this point is a well used device but to good effect here, the exchanges between Changez and Bobby are intriguing as both try to figure each other out. The story of his life in America as a high flying student and then executive makes for interesting viewing but the love story with Erica (Kate Hudson) is superfluous and uninteresting, it is solely there to show Changez's dis-satisfaction with his life in America later on in the plot. This part of the plot should have been replaced with some deeper questions behind fundamentalism and the plight of Pakistani's and other ethnic minorities in America.

Changez in a Lahore restaurant with journalist Bobby

It's an impressive film considering its original narrative, it never judges its characters and lets people make up their own minds on such a controversial topic. The acting is impressive from the lead Riz Ahmed whilst Liev Schrieber and Kiefer Sutherland are certainly capable, its Kate Hudson who lets it down as the love interest. There was no passion in her performance with Changez and she just came across as whiney and frustrating. It's far from perfect and is a little simplistic in it's overall message but it's still one of the better films released in 2013.

2.5/4 Intriguing drama that poses some interesting questions