4/5 Rosewater Anyone familiar with the silver-haired satirist behind Comedy Central’s The Daily Show knows how big of a surprise it is that the man’s directorial debut is a thoroughly dramatic tale of false imprisonment and mental torture. Or maybe it is no surprise at all. If you watch Jon Stewart, you know just how brilliant and compassionate the guy really is - the guy is a self-proclaimed Springsteen freak, how could he not be? No matter what side of the political line you stand on, Rosewater will cut right to your human center with its tale of survival and persistence. The first chunk of the movie sets the stage. After Maziar Bahari (played by Mexican star Gael García Bernal), an Iranian-Canadian journalist for Newsweek magazine, tapes footage of rioting following the 2009 Iranian presidential election, he is forcefully detained by the Iranian government and interrogated under the accusation of being a Western spy. It is around this point that Bahari’s true-life story intertwines with Stewart’s. In the prison, one of the accusatory weapons used against him was a satirical interview he had shot for The Daily Show just days before. Needless to say, his Iranian captives do not see the humor. Bahari’s imprisonment in Evin prison lasted for 118 days, during which he was mentally tortured by a nameless man he dubs Rosewater. This section, though necessary for exposition purposes, is by far the film’s weakest link. Lots of location jumping and Iranian political talk may briefly bog down some viewers who come into the film not knowing extensive details of the election controversy that caused so much international turmoil in Iran. Thankfully, Stewart resists the urge to make this into a preachy docudrama, and instead shines his light on the human story underneath. Stuck with Bahari in his cell, all the political jargon washes away and we are left with nothing but this man’s insolation. Rosewater’s mission was not one of physical violence: “You must not just take his blood, you must take his hope.” Bahari had a pregnant wife who did not know if he was alive or dead and a mother who had already lost a husband and a daughter to war. Rosewater exploits these facts, leaving Bahari to stew in his family’s uncertainty. Most of us think of waterboarding when we think of torture, but forced isolation can be just as taxing on one’s mind and body. Bernal, who looks like a Mexican Daniel Radcliffe, may seem like a strange choice to play an Iranian. Surely there were plenty of Iranian actors willing and able to play the part. But for whatever reason he was chosen, Bernal does an excellent job of walking us through the different stages of Bahari’s coping mechanisms. At first, there is none; just panic. But seeing Bahari take refuge in his loving memories pushes Rosewater right past that “just good enough” point and into something special. Kudos to Stewart for not taking the easy road. What could have been a draining documentary turned out to be an standout drama of hope. (Local readers will have to see this in New Orleans. Take the time and see it if you're in that part of town.) | Director: Jon Stewart Starring: Gael García Bernal Screenwriter: Jon Stewart |
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Jordan JamesArchives
January 2016
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