After reading The Reluctant Fundamentalist, and then reading
the film, the biggest contrast I see in character’s relationships is the one
between Changez and Bobby—formerly known as the “American Stranger.” One of the
key elements we discussed while close reading the book was the importance of
the stranger. We never knew his back-story: he wasn’t even given a name. The
stranger was anonymous so that we could picture being in his shoes. There was
always an air of uncertainty when it came to his motive.
Now, I know
that in the world of film, having the name of just one real character may bore
the audience. However, it has worked before with adaptations of books, such as
the book (and now movie), Buried. The entire book takes place inside a coffin.
He has memories, that include the names of people, but you only see from his
point of view. Very similar to how we only saw from Changez’s point of view in
the novel. We are introduced to Bobby early in the film when he gets a phone
call, presumably from the people in the scene beforehand. The call led up to a
meeting with Changez, however in the book the man who Bobby portrays ends up
having a meal with Changez only by chance—or so we are lead to believe. The
Stranger has no reason to tape what Changez is saying, it’s just friendly
conversation. However, Bobby needs to hear his every word. With this in mind,
Changez could have cut things out of his story. It’s no longer immediately a
friendly vibe like in the novel, but more of a nervous one.
Bobby also
has power in his hands, while in the book Changez was more dominant. Changez
was comfortable in his own country, helping out this man foreign man. He kept
calm, and tried to keep the Stranger at ease throughout the meal. However, in
the film, the stranger talks back to Changez. He has control over what is
happening to Changez’s family, and the safety of his students. Changez on the
other hand has obvious henchmen in the film. They work hard to make Bobby feel
uncomfortable, any chance they can. It’s like watching a duel the entire time;
who’s going to shoot first.
Is there a
misconception of the American director’s interpretation of the film? That’s a
big issue. In the book the entire time you are humanizing Changez. He might
look the part of a terrorist, but you’re learning that he lived the American
dream. He was at the top of an American firm, making bank—if I may—and scoring
the girl of his dreams. He is an innocent man, who walks up to a lost American
and tries to comfort him, because he too is a lover of America. Here, however
in this “appointment” with Bobby, Changez defensively tells him, once the phone
starts recording, that he is a lover of America. The movie’s audience gets the
idea that Changez may be involved in some sketchy stuff; after all the first
thing we see is this man getting kidnapped by men in beards, and suddenly it
turns into his problem. Who do we trust? That issue came out only towards the
end of book, because Changez was walking the stranger home in the dark—a
gesture friendly enough, but too friendly perhaps. But again, right off the
bat, we are unsure what this foreign man is involved with.
The concept
of the “American Stranger” was completely lost in the film. I’ve said it once,
and I just said it again. The tone set between the two at the café was
completely different than it was in the book. Sure, the reminiscing followed
the same basic plot line, but the outside world, which was normally just
Changez reassuring the stranger, or trying to grab his attention, was suddenly
way too intense. It was not as easy to watch, as it was to sit back and read.
