Sunday, June 21, 2015

Rosewater (2014)

In Jon Stewart's debut film, he does a respectable job honoring journalist Maziar Bahari, who was detained in Iran for 118 days at Evin Prison following an appearance on the satirical "The Daily Show" hosted by Stewart.  The satire was lost on the Iranian regime, who accused Bahari of espionage amid the 2009 presidential elections.  The movie draws attention to the plight of journalists, who risk their lives to expose the truth in dangerous situations.  Stewart uses actual news footage to bring the audience back to 2009. Gael Garcia Bernal plays Bahari, a man subjected to psychological torture, but whose hope is not crushed.  He is very good, bringing a range of emotions, keeping all 118 days engaging. Perhaps this is a glimpse into Stewart's post-"The Daily Show" life--will he become a filmmaker?  If so, I think we have a lot of good things to look forward to.

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