Review of Rosewater (2014) by Clem A — 16 Nov 2014

In this captivating true story, Gael Garcia Barnal gives a moving performance as Maziar Bahari, the Tehran-born journalist who in June 2009 returned home to Iran to cover the controversial election between President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad & his challenger Mir-Hossein Mousavi.

In an obviously fraudulent election, the Iranian people's hope for relief from the long nightmarish reign of Ahmadinejad, is quashed. Bahari videotapes the resulting uprising of the people & their violent protest in the streets.

Shortly after, Bahari is arrested at the home of his mother (Academy Award nominee Shohreh Aghdashloo) and incarcerated for months of interrogation and brutalization by his interrogator (Kim Bodnia,) primarily based on the misinterpretation of a comedy sketch Bahari once appeared in on The Daily Show.

In his debut as an writer & director, Jon Stewart has adapted the best-selling memoir "Then They Came for Me: A Family's Story of Love, Captivity, and Survival," written by Maziar Bahari & created an understated yet powerfully human presentation of individual resolve.

I was HIGHLY impressed by Stewart's first attempt at writing and directing a movie. I HIGHLY recommend SEEING THIS FILM.