Riz and Kate Hudson share great chemistry in Mira's film

Director Mehreen Jabbar, the Pakistani consultant for Mira Nair's 'The Reluctant Fundamentalist', talks about the film opening the 69 ^thVenice International Film Festival
It's time to rejoice for film buffs from the Indian subcontinent what with the news of Mira Nair's "The Reluctant Fundamentalist opening the 69 ^thVenice International Film Festival on August 29.Nair, who won the Golden Lion in 2001 for "Monsoon Wedding", will return to the Venice Film Festival for the fifth time. In 1991, her " Mississippi Masala" was in competition.In 2002, she was at the same festival with the episode from the collective film titled " 11'09""1 September 11". This film received the UNESCO Award too. In 2004, her " Vanity Fair" was in competition at the prestigious festival.
For those not in the loop, Mira's film is an adaptation of Mohsin Hamid's novel and is a political thriller that follows the story of a young Pakistani man, chasing corporate success on Wall Street, who ultimately finds himself embroiled in a conflict between his American Dream, a hostage crisis, and the enduring call of his family's homeland.
In a statement describing the choice of Nair's movie as the opening film, the director of the 69th Venice Film Festival, Alberto Barbera, said: "The Festival's opening night will feature a film that provides much food for thought. It is a choice that intends to highlight the growing role of female creativity in all spheres of culture and contemporary society. Mira Nair has made an exemplary film adaptation of a novel that deals with the topical issue of fundamentalisms of any kind or nature. With great sensitivity, subtlety and remarkable sense of cinematic narrative, the director is never reluctant to take a difficult stand, inspired by profound ethical and moral reasons that, although choosing to face reality, still reject its compromises and aberrations."
Shot in Delhi, Istanbul, New York and Atlanta, the film stars Riz Ahmed, Kate Hudson, Kiefer Sutherland, Liev Schreiber, Martin Donovan, Om Puri, Shabana Azmi, Haluk Bilginer and Meesha Shafi. While director Shimit Amin has edited the movie, the costumes have been done byArjun Bhasin.
Director of "Ramchand Pakistani", Mehreen Jabbar, who was the Pakistani consultant of the movie, is thrilled with the news. Says Jabbar from New York, "I've seen the film and loved it. I am very excited about the news. Venice is a great festival. Mira is in Uganda now and I have e-mailed her after I heard the news." Ask Jabbar what she has liked about Nair's work in the film and she says, "It is a very well told and thought out story. Mira made a complex subject very watchable and riveting. I can't say more till the film is released."
Speaking about the release, does she think the movie will get screened in Pakistan though only the B rolls (shots of the city) were done in Pakistan. "I don't know the dates but I am sure it will release. The film is set in Pakistan and is written by a Pakistani author and has Pakistani characters." As for Riz Ahmed, Jabbar says, "He is a very intense and focused actor and brings that to this film. Riz has practically owned the character. He is also a very smart actor and has really sunk his teeth into this role. His on-screen chemistry with Kate Hudson is very good too. Mira has made a great film and I think, everyone should watch it."