After announcing
his retirement from “The Daily Show” the same week as the DVD and Blu-ray
release of his directorial debut, one cannot help but wonder if Rosewater was just the beginning of a
career in filmmaking for Jon Stewart. Based on the confidence in his debut
feature, this could be a worthwhile venture for him and for audiences alike.
Far from a perfect film, Rosewater
does carry over the same ability that Stewart has employed on his comedy news
show for seventeen years. While never diminishing the seriousness of the
subject, Stewart is able to allow humor to exist within the lunacy of the
narrative.
Perhaps this in
part possible because of Stewart’s connection to the true story the film is
based on, so much that it becomes a part of the narrative. The story is based
on “Then They Came For Me,” the memoir by Tehran-born journalist, Maziar Bahari
(played by Gael Garcia Bernal), who was arrested while covering the 2009
presidential election in Iran
This
interrogation is carried out primarily by a man Bahari knows only as
‘Rosewater’ (Kim Bodnia), a nickname given to the man because of his perfume of
choice. The interrogation takes months, all in an attempt to get Bahari to
admit that he is a spy. Even when the journalist is willing to admit this just
to be set free, the Iranian officials don’t seem certain what to do with him.
There is a Kafkaesque confusion about the entire endeavor, which lightens the
mood of the otherwise bleak narrative.
The Blu-ray
combo pack release also includes a DVD and Digital HD copy of the film. The
extras only contain five featurettes, but many have a comedic edge to keep them
entertaining while also informative, like much of Stewart’s work. In fact, one
of the featurette is on the director’s perspective.
Entertainment Value:
7/10
Quality of
Filmmaking: 7.5/10
Historical
Significance: 6/10
Special Features: 6/10
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