The Reluctant Fundamentalist (2012)
Cast includes: Riz Ahmed (Four Lions), Live Schreiber (Defiance), Kate Hudson (Almost Famous), Kiefer Sutherland (Phone Booth)
Director: Mira Nair (The Namesake)
Genre: Drama | Thriller (130 minutes) Mostly English with parts in Urdu with subtitles
Lahore, 2011… The pulsing rhythm of “Kangna” is nothing short of divine, but some in the audience have a different agenda. Outside, Dr. Rainier is violently abducted. An envelope delivered to the US Embassy the next day has a photo of the bloodied Rainier held by terrorists. It gets pinned to the board… along with newspaper clippings and photos of suspects like Fazil and Changez. It’s surprising that Changez has finally agreed to an interview, but “the time is right, Bobby.” The atmosphere is edgy at Pak Tea House, but then the whole city’s edgy. “The police become very agitated when it’s an American kidnapped,” says Changez. “Do you think he’s still alive?” Bobby asks. He gets no response. Bobby is eager to get answers, but Changez insists… “Please listen to the whole story, not just bits and pieces. Looks can be deceiving… I’m a lover of America.”
Ten years earlier, Changez graduated from Princeton. He loved everything about America… most of all its “level playing field.” He had been a scholarship student. Although his father was a famous poet… “His laser sharp words and inadequate salary were well known throughout the Punjab.” After graduation, Changez got a job at the prestigious firm of Underwood Samson. His abilities to focus on fundamentals and analyze a company’s potential made him a rising star. “I was a soldier in your financial army,” he tells Bobby. Bobby seems distracted. “You look quite solid for a journalist… like someone who could move fast in an emergency.” Changez suspects that Bobby isn’t an ordinary journalist. Anyway, in September of 2001, Changez was in Manila improving his company’s bottom line and securing a nice promotion. Changez was truly living the American dream… the job, the impressive income and an American girlfriend he hoped would be the mother of his children. From his hotel room, the attack on the World Trade Center unfolded on TV. “For a split second, I was in awe… David had struck Goliath”… a totally normal reaction, he believes… “You’ve got to appreciate the simplicity of it.” But that feeling was totally separate from his love of America. Not even the rude welcome at the airport could change that. Unfortunately, that was only the beginning. “You picked a side after 9/11. I didn’t have to. It was picked for me.” Now with the police and the CIA getting increasingly jumpy, Bobby finds himself in the middle of a dangerous confrontation… but he hasn’t yet figured out how to size up the players.
Adapted from a critically acclaimed novel, this is an outstanding movie that grabs us right from the opening scenes… the script, acting, cinematography and amazing soundtrack are all top notch. There are certainly those who won’t appreciate the Pakistani viewpoint, but it’s not intended to be anti-American. Instead it asks us to consider identity vs perception. In an ideal world, we could give others the benefit of the doubt. But when lives are at stake, we’re inclined to fall back on perceptions and prejudices. The Reluctant Fundamentalist isn’t trying to show us fundamental truths. In fact, it challenges the concept of fundamentalism. It gives us a view of Pakistan we rarely see and a detailed story about one individual and his specific journey… with astute observations on human nature… all wrapped in a heart-thumping political thriller. “Yes, I’m Pakistani. Yes, I’m Muslim. But that’s not all I am.”
4 popped kernels
A Princeton educated Pakistani man lives the American dream until 9/11 redefines his identity
Popcorn Profile
Rated: R (Violence)
Audience: Grown-ups
Distribution: Mainstream limited release
Mood: Sober
Tempo: Zips right along
Visual Style: Nicely varnished realism
Character Development: Engaging
Language: True to life
