Director: Jon Stewart
By Alex Watson
Of all the first time directors, the last name many would have expected to see credited to a feature film was 'The Daily Show' man Jon Stewart. Known for being one of the smartest and sharpest political satirists, Stewart this year tells the story of Canadian-Iranian journalist Maziar Bahari, whose imprisonment in Iran brought international attention in his film, Rosewater. After some receptive reviews at TIFF 2014, it appears that Stewart may have a future in film.
Mazier Bahari (Gael Garcia Benal) is a London based journalist who has returned home to Tehran, Iran to cover the upcoming election. After giving a satirical interview for American television, he finds himself imprisoned and brutally tortured over 118 days! But as the regime sets about to break his spirit, Mazier quickly realizes that having hope is the only tool that will keep him alive.
Rosewater is a steady first feature from Stewart and shows his potential promise as director. The story of Mazier Bahari is one that has a unique mix of tension and political humor thrown in for good measure. An early example of the misunderstanding of western lifestyle comes when his family home is raided and the interrogator (Kim Bodnia) produces copies of The Soprano's and Pasolini's, Teorema and declares they are porn! Quickly Mazier is thrown into jail where he is repeatedly accused of being part of a US conspiracy and is routinely brutalized for flimsy evidence.
His interrogator sets about to break him through any means, but through his imaginary conversations with his dead father (who was previously imprisoned under the Shah's regime) it lights the fire under him that he sorely needs. He may mock and scorn his father's communist ideals and for leaving his family due to his refusal to divert from them. But he also feels a deep love and the man's absence is something that plays on his mind constantly and it through his old man's fiery urgings that gives him the reason to believe. Stewart here demonstrates a real depth of emotion that few would have predicted and this becomes the movie;s principle strength.
The main problem however, comes from Rosewater's humorous feel. Under this the movie slightly collapses and leaves things a little off balance. There are flushes of great jokey moments, one scene sees Mazier told his about to be shot, but still offered Nescafe to drink! Stewart though slightly misreads the tone required and from this he doesn't quite succeed. One key feature that is noticeably absent is that lack of nail biting tension, we all know that Bahari will eventually be released and his imprisonment although at times slightly awkward is never hit home with any real brutal force.
Gael Garcia Bernal demonstrates his versatility as Mazier Bahari and through an excellent central turn, he becomes both the movies political and moral voice. Also Bernal is able to encapture the absurdity of his situation and his mocking contempt for the political regime and their lack of imagination. Unlike Mazier, they will never be truly free thinking and Bernal exploits this to full effect. In a brief but key supporting role, Haluk Bilginer succeeds admirably as Bahari Senior and his ghostly presence becomes his son's inner spirit which will guide him towards freedom.
Aside for a few missteps, Rosewater shows that Jon Stewart could well have a career in film should ever choose to step down from political comedy. A solid if not unremarkable debut feature, Stewart is one to watch in future.
No comments:
Post a Comment