Behind the impeccably dressed Muslim Wall Street businessman lurks an Islamic terrorist. Could our prejudice possibly exceed this statement? The primary aim in the life of Pakistani Changez Khan is to assess companies’ values. In order to accomplish that achievement, one is to resort to the market fundamentals, according to him.

With an Ivy League degree among his merits, and landing a job as a financial analyst in the top-notch valuation firm Underwood Samson, Changez Khan is the immaculate embodiment of the American dream. However, his life is forever profoundly altered in consequence of the 9/11 atrocities. His status as a privileged financial analyst is replaced with an inferiority thanks to his ethnicity. Due to the ludicrous circumstances, such as being harassed because of his Middle Eastern appearance, strip-searched at the airport and questioned by the FBI, Khan is estranged from his newfound homeland – America. The film The Reluctant Fundamentalist is Mira Nair’s adaption of Mohsin Hamid’s best selling novel of the same title. The movie depicts the fictional protagonist’s (Changez Khan) unjust treatment in America, to demonstrate the dysfunctional dialogue of the East and West.

We are thrown into the plot as the popular Pakistani professor, Changez Khan, greets the American journalist in a teahouse in Lahore, Pakistan. Suspicion arises at first sight, but the interview proceeds undisturbed, as Changes Khan tells his life story. The two startlingly dissimilar men symbolize the two countries Pakistan and America – the East and West. Furthermore, the communication transpiring between the men could be translated as a dialogue between the East and the West. Their mutual suspicion is the suspicion of the East and West. The initial hostility could be interpreted as the conflict between the two countries. The dysfunctional dialogue of the East and West is based on a lack of understanding and reaching out. Through the men we uncover the motives, and arguments, of the two countries. Both sides are represented and their arguments stated. When the communication is orchestrated in a movie, the message has a more profound impact on a broader audience.

In real life, the film crew and cast are of international origin. It was stated in the article Crossing Dangerous Boarders composed by Fred Kaplan that it is “an Indian director making a Pakistani film in America”. In this way, the movie is provided with various angles of the issue, as an international crew is working together. Further on, the article also mentioned that Mira Nair was turned down by the investigator when asking for a higher budget for the movie, for the reason of the protagonist being a Muslim. This casts light on the current insolent attitude of Muslins by the American audience. Furthermore, the conflict between the East and West is a longstanding conflict, which was severely worsened by the 9/11-atrocity. This is reflected in the movie as the instant the harassment of Changez Khan begins. His life is shadowed by lingering suspicion and he is even being falsely accused of being a terrorist due to his Middle Eastern appearance.

Another focus of the movie is the exploration of identity, which is displayed by the way in which the film addresses Changez Khan’s inner turmoil. It is essentially portrayed as the duality of whether he is American or Pakistani. Through the movie Khan’s adaptability is admirable. He almost effortlessly transforms into the epitome ideal of an American male in his external attributes and manners. Though still as a Pakistani within, he struggles constantly and tries to obtain approval of his new countrymen and women. Unfortunately, this internal conflict reaches its pivoting point in conjunction with the 9/11 atrocities. Changez Khan is thereafter alienated from his American identity and seeks consolation in his Pakistani self. Furthermore, it was mentioned in Fred Kaplan’s article that the novel writer, Mohsin Hamid, experienced similar internal conflicts. The article highlights Hamid’s answer, his feeling as a mixture of both cultures. These people having insight of both worlds, are valuable in the dialogue between the East and West.

Moreover, the identity crisis occurring within Changez Khan may feasibly also be perceived as another dialogue between the East and West, which may be exemplified by the fact that there is continuously a battle within him. This is the battle revolving around his American and Pakistani identity. To dissipate the battle, he reasons within himself. This conflict also enlightens us that Islam and Christianity – the East and West – may not be as repelling opposites as it is perceived today, instead both can coexist within the same person. The inner conflict also displays that the animosity between the East and West impacts on completely innocent individuals in our society, such as Changez Khan. This evokes compassion in its film viewers.

All in all, neither was Changez Khan a terrorist, nor was the American journalist a spy. When leaving America and deserting his career as a financial analyst in the big Apple Changez Khan returns home. In Pakistan he resorts to the fundamentals – though, this time he is temped by a different sort of fundamentals.

By Dinna Zhou