$13.34
FREE delivery May 10 - 14. Details
Only 1 left in stock - order soon.
$$13.34 () Includes selected options. Includes initial monthly payment and selected options. Details
Price
Subtotal
$$13.34
Subtotal
Initial payment breakdown
Shipping cost, delivery date, and order total (including tax) shown at checkout.
Ships from
S. Boston Books
Ships from
S. Boston Books
Returns
Eligible for Return, Refund or Replacement within 30 days of receipt
Eligible for Return, Refund or Replacement within 30 days of receipt
This item can be returned in its original condition for a full refund or replacement within 30 days of receipt. You may receive a partial or no refund on used, damaged or materially different returns.
Read full return policy
Returns
Eligible for Return, Refund or Replacement within 30 days of receipt
This item can be returned in its original condition for a full refund or replacement within 30 days of receipt. You may receive a partial or no refund on used, damaged or materially different returns.
Read full return policy
Payment
Secure transaction
Your transaction is secure
We work hard to protect your security and privacy. Our payment security system encrypts your information during transmission. We don’t share your credit card details with third-party sellers, and we don’t sell your information to others. Learn more
Payment
Secure transaction
We work hard to protect your security and privacy. Our payment security system encrypts your information during transmission. We don’t share your credit card details with third-party sellers, and we don’t sell your information to others. Learn more

The Reluctant Fundamentalist [Blu-ray]

Riz Ahmed (Actor), Kate Hudson (Actor), Mira Nair (Director) Rated:
R
Format: Blu-ray
4.5 4.5 out of 5 stars 201 ratings
IMDb6.8/10.0
$13.34
Additional Blu-ray options Edition Discs
Price
New from Used from
Blu-ray
August 27, 2013 		—
1
$13.34
$9.48 $3.16
Watch Instantly with Rent Buy
The Reluctant Fundamentalist — $11.99
{"desktop_buybox_group_1":[{"displayPrice":"$13.34","priceAmount":13.34,"currencySymbol":"$","integerValue":"13","decimalSeparator":".","fractionalValue":"34","symbolPosition":"left","hasSpace":false,"showFractionalPartIfEmpty":true,"offerListingId":"GO6zvbZ5EZJZ%2FUwIBogcqp1EugBGusnGYCbl8UdwacEXDhl69xBWUhgCAI8VEhewWYU5o3E0EpmybvvHcEoBWpqbOQ7Qp7VfhtXxn2oeYTK3VgRlw3yJaKBoAOW01N7IupRsHDc%2BhzV%2FpnciIP2PW7jx2cNjJgC5esn23DVoseCFodK1xVE3LQ%3D%3D","locale":"en-US","buyingOptionType":"NEW","aapiBuyingOptionIndex":0}]}

Purchase options and add-ons

Genre Action & Adventure/Thrillers
Format Blu-ray, Widescreen, NTSC
Contributor Gary Richardson, Deepti Datt, Sarah Quinn, Kate Hudson, Ashwath Bhatt, Liev Schreiber, Kiefer Sutherland, Chandrachur Singh, Chris Smith, Ali Sethi, Martin Donovan, Haluk Bilginer, Om Puri, Lydia Dean Pilcher, Imaad Shah, Nelsan Ellis, Mira Nair, Riz Ahmed, Imaaduddin Shah, Shabana Azmi, Adil Hussain, Meesha Shafi See more
Language English
Runtime 1 hour and 36 minutes
Add a debit or credit card to save time when you check out
Convenient and secure with 2 clicks. Add your card

Product Description

Based on the international bestseller, THE RELUCTANT FUNDAMENTALIST is both a gripping thriller and a fascinating look at the post-9/11 world. Kate Hudson (Glee, Something Borrowed), Kiefer Sutherland (24, Touch) and Liev Schreiber (X-Men Origins, Repo Men) lead a powerful cast in the story of a young man caught in the middle of an unfolding international crisis. When an American academic in Pakistan is kidnapped by anti-American radicals, the CIA thinks popular young Pakistani professor Changez (Riz Ahmed, Trishna) is involved. But as Changez tells his remarkable story about his life in the US; including his rising career on Wall Street and passionate relationship with a beautiful New York artist, to an American foreign correspondent, the truth becomes harder to pin down. Acclaimed director Mira Nair's (Monsoon Wedding) adaptation of Mohsin Hamid's novel is a tense tale of hidden agendas and best intentions gone wrong.

Product details

  • Is Discontinued By Manufacturer ‏ : ‎ No
  • MPAA rating ‏ : ‎ R (Restricted)
  • Product Dimensions ‏ : ‎ 0.7 x 7.5 x 5.4 inches; 2.4 ounces
  • Item model number ‏ : ‎ 26920335
  • Director ‏ : ‎ Mira Nair
  • Media Format ‏ : ‎ Blu-ray, Widescreen, NTSC
  • Run time ‏ : ‎ 1 hour and 36 minutes
  • Release date ‏ : ‎ August 27, 2013
  • Actors ‏ : ‎ Riz Ahmed, Kate Hudson, Liev Schreiber, Kiefer Sutherland, Om Puri
  • Producers ‏ : ‎ Lydia Dean Pilcher
  • Studio ‏ : ‎ IFC Independent Film
  • ASIN ‏ : ‎ B00CQRNLLA
  • Number of discs ‏ : ‎ 1
  • Customer Reviews:
    4.5 4.5 out of 5 stars 201 ratings

Customer reviews

4.5 out of 5 stars
4.5 out of 5
201 global ratings

Top reviews from the United States

Kimberly Crichton
5.0 out of 5 stars NoRoom for Reason
Reviewed in the United States on October 20, 2020
Verified Purchase
This movie uses glances, coldor, tight spirals, and mistrust to produce tragedy. A scruffy American journalist has ventured into a hostel and teahouse where he is manifestly unwelcome. His purpose is to interview a young professor. The interview moves backward in time to a soccer game at Princeton. It ends at a graveside. In between, this young man relives a promising start on the American dream and its awful ending after 9/11. His brilliance and British accent no longer shield him, and he chooses respect for remarkable talent over trashing anything that doesn't make enough profit. That means he resigns and returns to Pakistan. Suddenly the CIA commandos are going to storm the teahouse. In the twisted logic of excessive force, the slaughter of a man simply trying to keep everyone calm twists the heart.
One person found this helpful
Helpful
 Report
H. M. Neely
5.0 out of 5 stars Thoughtful exploration of a troubling trend
Reviewed in the United States on October 11, 2013
Verified Purchase
Mira Nair's film is not a pulse-pounding thriller, though it does have significant moments of tension and excitement. It is rather a thoughtful exploration of an intelligent, educated young Pakistani man who is able to pursue his American dream and succeed...only to tragically learn about and finally understand the moral bankruptsy of the American financial mangement ethos. The film is based on the 2008 novel by Mohsin Hamid, and it's possible that Amy Boghani and William Wheeler's adapation moves the story a little to quickly to give full weight to the wrenching internal changes that young Changez has to make. But I found the film to be very powerful and through provoking. Riz Ahmed in the central role is a handsome and compelling young actor. He is surrounded by terrific support from Liev Schreiber, Kate Hudson, Kiefer Sutherland, Nelsan Ellis, and others. The music and photography are tops, as one would expect from a film made by a director as sensitive and knowledgeable as Ms. Nair. I thoroughly enjoyed this film!
6 people found this helpful
Helpful
 Report
Christina Reynolds
4.0 out of 5 stars Avoids Exploitive Messages, great performances!
Reviewed in the United States on March 8, 2021
Verified Purchase
𝑭𝒖𝒏𝒅𝒂𝒎𝒆𝒏𝒕𝒂𝒍𝒊𝒔𝒎 (𝒏):
𝑨 𝒇𝒐𝒓𝒎 𝒐𝒇 𝒂 𝒓𝒆𝒍𝒊𝒈𝒊𝒐𝒏 𝒕𝒉𝒂𝒕 𝒖𝒑𝒉𝒐𝒍𝒅𝒔 𝒃𝒆𝒍𝒊𝒆𝒇 𝒊𝒏 𝒕𝒉𝒆 𝒔𝒕𝒓𝒊𝒄𝒕, 𝒍𝒊𝒕𝒆𝒓𝒂𝒍 𝒊𝒏𝒕𝒆𝒓𝒑𝒓𝒆𝒕𝒂𝒕𝒊𝒐𝒏 𝒐𝒇 𝒔𝒄𝒓𝒊𝒑𝒕𝒖𝒓𝒆.

The September 11 attacks, often referred to as 9/11, were a series of four coordinated terrorist attacks by the Wahhabi terrorist group Al-Qaeda against the United States on the morning of Tuesday, September 11, 2001. The attacks resulted in 2,977 fatalities, over 25,000 injuries, and substantial long-term health consequences, in addition to at least $10 billion in infrastructure and property damage.
Consequently, since the year 2001 stats statistics collected by the FBI have shown an increase in hate crimes perpetrated towards Muslim individuals (jumping from 28 to 481 reported incidents in the year following 9/11) and these particular incidents are now the second most frequently reported hate crimes when they previously were (prior to 9/11) the second least reported.

The Reluctant Fundamentalist is a 2012 political thriller drama film directed by Mira Nair and is based on the 2007 novel of the same name by Mohsin Hamid. The film is a post-9/11 story about the impact of the terrorist attacks on one Pakistani man (Changez) and his treatment by Americans in reaction to them.

As is the case with the aforementioned source material, Changez’s identity and way of life is thrown underneath a microscope; he comes across early as disillusioned and inundated with the promise and pursuit of “the American dream”, but this excitement strays away from depending on baseless optimism or some wasteful disembowelment of his ancestral or cultural background. Surprisingly, however, Nair goes the extra mile in making its leading American character more relatable and provides extraneous information about various elements such as their employment history, familial structure, and other characteristics originally left up to the imagination. It is arguable that this creates opportunities for conflict and reprieve that part ways from Hamid’s vision, but this consequently makes ‘The Reluctant Fundamentalist’ a more palatable and consumable experience for audience members who may have little to no reason to invest their time and offer their sympathies to a story where a natural connection to the material is otherwise nowhere to be found

I have my own qualms about Erica (Changez’s love interest, But it's worth noting that exclusion her wasn’t a practical option - because, alas, she does have a significant presence in the source novel. With that in mind - the dynamic between her and Changez adds very little to the story as a whole that comes across as essential and their intimacy most often acts as a cliche in terms of the safety net of vulnerability it provides Changez at the risk of it being easily entangled or cast aside. Nair’s depiction of Erica is much more on-the-nose as it relates to her emotional baggage and contingencies proceeding a period of absence on her behalf, so at the very least I can express gratitude for Erica not simply being left out to dry once her role in the larger context becomes fully actualized or developed.

Where Nair’s vision forcibly detaches itself from Hamid’s is the manner in which it arrives at its conclusion. Where the novel uses open ended Illusions to provoke thoughts and assumptions this film prefers precision and makes its intentions more forcibly known; As a result it is easier for audience members to decide whether or not Changez is someone they should be (in theory) rooting for or not. To its credit this film manages to use reservoirs of dramatic irony to trick its viewers into making assumptions about Changez based on his cultural background, but it doesn't commit to an extent that is abhorrent or potentially offensive; moreover, his fragmented identity does come through by virtue of Ahmed’s dynamically convincing performance (No surprise, given his connection to the subject matter) and the lack of ambiguity distorts the reception of otherwise xenophobic and ultimately exploitive messages.

Is criticism speaks more to my curiosity ( and perhaps even my ignorance), but I can't help but point out the jarring (and at times seemingly exaggerated) contrast as it relates to the development of Changez’s eventual fundamentalism or extremism; this is especially true when the audience is deprived of insight regarding the state of his homeland in regards to the presence and influence by American forces before 9-11 (that he comes to begin passionately leading protests against) and possible interactions linked to islamophobia before this Monumental tragedy.
Two things specifically keep me from being two hung up on this complaint however
1) Many of the elements composing transitional shifts in the plot (like changes in the location) mirror similar changes (like in residency) made by the author of the Source material in real life. I can only infer after knowing this information that it's very likely that much of Hamid’s life - including personal experiences with Islamophobic behaviors - have bled their way into this story albeit unconsciously or with some level purpose or objective in mind.
2) Personally? I just don't feel comfortable implying that the level or intensity of the Islamophobic behaviors portrayed doesn't satiate my curiosity as a relates to the suffering or mistreatment of people that can relate to Changez in any manner. I’m as Caucasian as it gets. You do the math 🤷🤷🤷

Left to Nair’s discretion, The Reluctant Fundamentalist Is a relatively watered-down version of what is otherwise a distinctly brilliant novel. Nonetheless, it is a feasible and grounded illustration of the daunting burden born out of the desire to dream freely as a witness to privilege in a world that so readily imprisons the disadvantaged and the misunderstood.
I would recommend.
(P.S. At least one of these stars is for Ahmed! 🌠)
One person found this helpful
Helpful
 Report
esther ratner
5.0 out of 5 stars Fundamentalism still unexplained...
Reviewed in the United States on April 24, 2014
Verified Purchase
I would highly recommend this movie to whose who want to understand how an individual turns to fundamentalism. Unfortunately, the explanation given by the movie did not add to my understanding but it was interesting to watch. The character development from successful Wall Street trader to Pakistani sympathizer requires more insight. I would have shortened the first half of the movie and put more emphasis and clarification on the second half as he starts to turn. The lost love relationship was well done. The character's relationship to his father, his Pakistani friends and colleagues needs to be developed. The last ten minutes of the film, where his mind has already changed, pass by too quickly. I would have appreciated more emphasis here but perhaps this requires the reading of the novel. Wonderfully acted. I would watch the film again with friends in order to have the chance to discuss it more thoroughly.
One person found this helpful
Helpful
 Report
Bettina Jones
5.0 out of 5 stars Excellent movie. This is a movie that makes you ...
Reviewed in the United States on July 16, 2016
Verified Purchase
Excellent movie. This is a movie that makes you think. Period. It addresses fundamentalism from both sides - eastern and western. Yes the west has a form of fundamentalism. I would say a number of Americans will not like this film as it makes us look at ourselves through a critical lens. The music in the opening credits is fantastic and works beautifully with the events that are unfolding. Having read the book this film was made from, I feel this is a great adaptation. Excellent cast. Definitely worth watching. This is a thinking mans movie and promotes discussion after viewing it.
One person found this helpful
Helpful
 Report
Sparrow
5.0 out of 5 stars Complex, Thoughtful, Well Acted
Reviewed in the United States on October 21, 2013
Verified Purchase
I appreciate filmmaker's attempts to delve into the complex issues of the Middle-Eastern psyche and the West. Superb film that's well acted -- although Kate Hudson's character is painful to watch (this is a scripting issue, however, not reflective of Hudson's acting). All lead actors are sharp and at the top of their game. Riveting to watch, insightful if only for it's attempt to tackle very complex social, political, and psychological issues, and I found the film thought provoking. Definitely not formula & I will buy this film when it comes down a bit in price. SUPERB acting by the young male lead -- he's definitely one to watch (not to mention gorgeous)!
2 people found this helpful
Helpful
 Report

Top reviews from other countries

Chetan Uppal
5.0 out of 5 stars enjoyed it absolutely
Reviewed in India on April 12, 2018
Verified Purchase
very well made movie....!!! enjoyed it absolutely...thats why I purchased it.
Report
Ghazi Rasheed
5.0 out of 5 stars Thought Provoking to say the least
Reviewed in Canada on March 10, 2014
Verified Purchase
As an outsider looking into Hollywood there is an obvious red tape around many issues that concern controversial subject matter such as Terrorism - home grown and middle eastern. This movie tramples on that red tape and gives prospective as to why these problems exist and how they shape the lives of people in and outside of America.

There is no obvious "side" that is picked in this movie and up to the very end it leaves you guessing how this plot will wrap up but in the end it feels like a complete story, and one that probably should have been told much sooner.

If the purpose of art is to provoke thought, this movie has my 5/5 stars!
Report
Ikebana
4.0 out of 5 stars Read the book and enjoyed the film
Reviewed in Spain on June 6, 2014
Verified Purchase
Some time ago I read the book and thoroughly enjoyed it - was very curious to see how it would be made into a film - it was different but really enjoyed the film.
Report
Amazon Customer
5.0 out of 5 stars Five Stars
Reviewed in India on January 11, 2018
Verified Purchase
Great
Report
Cowboypenner
5.0 out of 5 stars Wasn't Expecting Much
Reviewed in Canada on October 28, 2013
Verified Purchase
I bought this movie because the plot sounded interesting. I also bought it because it stars Kiefer Sutherland. When the opening credits started rolling my expectations were suddenly lowered when I saw that it was an IFC film. In my experience IFC films tend to be more artsy and low buck with a very Canadian flavor. This movie couldn't be further from that. I'm not sure if this movie ever saw the big screen but it is definitely a big screen caliber movie. Great story line, Great acting. This movie was definitely worth buying and I would recommend it to anyone.
2 people found this helpful
 Report