The Reluctant Fundamentalist

Translated from swedish: This is a film about and for a confused time. Perhaps it's most valuable and compelling during its journey rather than in the dramatic and pulse-raising finale where thriller form and overarching message come together in a way that seems a bit too conventional and not quite airtight. The point about how suspicion and prejudice can lead to misery and squandered chances for reconciliation shouldn't be something you can misunderstand.
- Johan Lindahl

Swedish: russin.nu »

Translated from swedish: Despite any potential shortcomings, the film succeeds where it matters most. With its message, with its well-balanced story, with its characters.
- Fredrik Adolvsson

Swedish: moviezine.se »

Translated from swedish: The strength of "The Reluctant Fundamentalist" lies in the complex and anything but saccharine character portrayals
- Michael Tapper

Swedish: sydsvenskan.se »

Translated from swedish: A rather slow-paced, well-told story about being a young Muslim in New York when the hunt for terrorists kicks into high gear. Gripping as well.
- Björn Jansson

Swedish: sverigesradio.se »

Translated from swedish: Of course, one could complain that "The Reluctant Fundamentalist" isn't as good, in-depth, or interesting as it could have been. But considering how many balls it has in the air, and how difficult questions it tackles, the film is still something of a subtle tour de force. It contains no moral platitudes, and Riz Ahmed has a strong and important presence in the lead role; he radiates both childishness, premature maturity, pride, seriousness, intelligence, and emotional depth.
- Fredrik Fyhr

Swedish: fredrikfyhr.se »

Translated from swedish: Eerie timing with film about fundamentalism
- Hynek Pallas

Swedish: svd.se »

Translated from swedish: "The Reluctant Fundamentalist" is charged with tension

Swedish: aftonbladet.se »

Translated from swedish: It's a political film with an important subject matter and a story that remains compelling throughout. However, while Hamid's understated narrative is thoughtful and well-articulated, Nair tends to become heavy-handed, which causes some of the novel's tension to be lost.
- Jorunn Amcoff

Swedish: expressen.se »

Translated from swedish: Under director Mira Nair's direction, the story transforms from a subtle tale of identity into an uneven drama-thriller that aims to explain the mechanisms of radicalization but only manages to maintain inner tension in patches.
- Emma Engström

Swedish: gp.se »

Translated from swedish: Mira Nair is a rightfully acclaimed filmmaker who creates vibrant works with just the right amount of humor and warmth, never forgetting her underlying humanistic mission. Usually, it's more than worth watching. But subtle she is not. In short, not one of her best, but obviously still a relevant film.
- Fredrik Sahlin

Swedish: svt.se »

Translated from swedish: Parts of "The Reluctant Fundamentalist" live up to their promise, but half of it is simply too sluggish to deserve anything better than a mediocre rating. There are elements that are controversial and would have benefited from deeper exploration. Unfortunately, Nair just sprinkles expensive glitter over these complex issues.
- Fredrik Söderlund

Swedish: bt.se »

Translated from swedish: The subject matter is incredibly fascinating, but the story spreads itself too thin to really grab hold of you. It would have been better to focus on one thing - namely, what life in the USA was really like for people who looked like Changez.
- Cecilia Alstermark

Swedish: arbetet.se »

Translated from swedish: Both the book and the film adaptation demonstrate that discrimination and prejudice lead to alienation, bitterness, and sometimes hatred that can ultimately have catastrophic consequences. On paper, the film is extremely compelling, yet I still leave the movie theater largely unmoved. The story has been sanitized, and unlike in the novel, no questions are left unanswered - by the time the end credits roll, we know exactly who did what and why.
- Daniel Åberg

Swedish: unt.se »

Translated from swedish: The love story is painfully bad. It feels forced and doesn't resonate at all. "The Reluctant Fundamentalist" still manages to deliver some gripping scenes and gets a few laughs. Despite the cheesy, corny elements, the strange underlying story barely keeps your interest alive. I left the screening thinking about how good this movie actually could have been.
- Jan-Eje Ferling

Swedish: filmeye.se »

Translated from swedish: Unfortunately, director Mira Nair fails to tell this story in a skillful way. She's so concerned with making everything clear and comprehensible that the film almost becomes dumbed down. Perhaps it's a consequence of this being a sensitive subject in the USA, but it becomes too one-dimensional to capture the intensity that this brutal reality deserves.
- Lars Böhlin

Swedish: Folkbladet.nu »

Translated from swedish: The subject matter is both fascinating and important. That's what makes it such a shame that the theme gets overshadowed by cringe-worthy script clichés, clumsy attempts at unexpected plot twists, and Hallmark-style melodrama hogging the spotlight. Worst of all is the complete lack of chemistry between Ahmed and Kate Hudson. The only redeeming feature is the unintentionally hilarious overacting from Kiefer Sutherland.
- Amat Levin

Swedish: ng.se »