Review of The Reluctant Fundamentalist (2013) by Valerie P — 29 Jun 2014

Like any good film, this story makes you think. Director Mira Nair has been brave in tackling a prickly issue, and has had the realistic sense to appreciate that solutions are nearly impossible to come by.

This is the story of a Pakistani man who comes to America for an ivy league education just prior to the 9/11 disaster. After graduating Princeton, the student, Changez, lands a dream job on Wall Street. Changez is not embarrassed by his roots, but he is happy to call America his home. Changez's feelings begin to change when he experiences extreme racism and racial targeting after the 9/11 attacks, When he finds himself feeling exploited by his own girlfriend, he realizes that he harbors a longing for home.

We join Changez, an influential professor at a Pakistani university, as he is being questioned by an American journalist. The journalist wants to know if Changez is using his influence to support terrorism. As Changez tells his story, the audience tries to decide if Changez has been soured so much by American inhospitality that he has been driven to extremism.

These are, indeed, tough issues. I can imagine some people would have been made uncomfortable during this film. While there is some conclusion offered, the movie doesn't attempt to tidy the whole messy business, and I respect that.

Riz Ahmed was absolutely brilliant as Changez. Truly captivating and excessively talented. He chose his script wisely.