Watch The Reluctant Fundamentalist

The Reluctant Fundamentalist is a timely and thought-provoking movie that delves into the complex topics of identity, cultural belonging, and the rise of terrorism in post-9/11 America. Directed by Mira Nair and based on the novel by Mohsin Hamid, the movie revolves around the story of Changez Khan, a Pakistani immigrant who is caught between two worlds.

The movie begins with Changez, played by Riz Ahmed, working as a successful financial analyst on Wall Street. He is the quintessential American dreamer - intelligent, ambitious, and driven to achieve professional success. However, his life takes a dramatic turn when he is detained and interrogated at the airport by American security agents, who suspect him of having ties to a terrorist group. This incident triggers a flashback, and the rest of the movie is told in a series of flashbacks and present-day scenes.

Through these flashbacks, we see Changez's journey from a bright-eyed student at Princeton University to a disillusioned young man who feels torn between his Pakistani roots and his American dreams. He falls in love with Erica, played by Kate Hudson, an aspiring writer who is struggling with her own demons. Their relationship is complicated by her mental illness, which eventually leads to their breakup.

As Changez struggles to find his place in American society, he becomes increasingly disillusioned with the capitalist values that he once embraced. He begins to question the ethics of his job, which involves laying off workers in order to maximize profits for his clients. This internal conflict is further exacerbated by the events of 9/11, which lead to a rise in anti-Muslim sentiment in America.

The turning point in the movie comes when Changez visits Pakistan, his home country, for the first time in years. There, he is welcomed with open arms by his family and reconnects with his cultural roots. He discovers a newfound sense of pride in his identity as a Pakistani, which conflicts with his desire to return to America.

The movie reaches its climax with a tense conversation between Changez and Bobby, played by Liev Schreiber, an American journalist who is interviewing him for a magazine. Bobby is skeptical of Changez's story and his motives, prompting a heated debate about the meaning of identity, terrorism, and cultural belonging.

Overall, The Reluctant Fundamentalist is a powerful movie that explores timely and relevant themes in a nuanced and thought-provoking way. The performances by Riz Ahmed, Liev Schreiber, and Kate Hudson are outstanding, and the movie is expertly directed by Mira Nair. The movie's message is clear: in a world torn apart by divisions and conflicts, it is important to listen to each other's stories and recognize the humanity in each other, regardless of our differences.

The Reluctant Fundamentalist is a 2013 thriller with a runtime of 2 hours and 8 minutes. It has received moderate reviews from critics and viewers, who have given it an IMDb score of 6.8 and a MetaScore of 54.