The Reluctant Fundamentalist is a 2012 political thriller/drama based on the 2007 novel by Mohsin Hamid, starring Riz Ahmed and Kate Hudson.
It follows the story of a young Pakistani man, Changez, chasing corporate success on Wall Street, who ultimately finds himself embroiled in a conflict between his American Dream, a hostage crisis, and the enduring call of his family's homeland.
In the vein of The Constant Gardener and Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy the film is an electrifying film based on the Booker Prize-shortlisted novel by Mohsin Hamid, which was rated one of the books to define the decade by The Guardian and reached # 4 on the New York Times Best Seller List.
See The Reluctant Fundamentalist book by Mira Nair
Awards
- Mill Valley Film Festival 2012 – Won Audience Award Favorite World Feature
Reviews
“William Wheeler has forged a richly complex, achingly satisfying screenplay from Mohsin Hamid's hugely popular, Booker Prize shortlisted novel and Mira Nair has turned it into a significant and powerful film with something to say” Urban Cinefile
“Get past the starchy title and you’ll find a compelling tour through noughties history with an admirably international outlook. Be prepared, though: this is a film that takes its time…” Total Film
“..more than likely won't make any best of the year lists, but it's a pretty ballsy political thriller that puts a much needed different spin on the war on terrorism in film and happily piggybacks on the shoulders of Riz Ahmed who carries the film with ease.” Examiner.com
“Ambitious and thought-provoking yet ultimately uneven, The Reluctant Fundamentalist is elevated – and saved – by a stunning central performance from Riz Ahmed.” Flix Capacitor
“..this is an ambitious, heartfelt tale of divided loyalties in a world where complacent belief in the triumph of globalised capital was shattered by the Twin Towers attack. It's a bold piece of storytelling with a strong lead performance from Riz Ahmed, and it rightly made an impression at last year's Venice film festival…an intriguing film about the blowback involved when melting-pot America goes to war.” Guardian UK