Rosewater

Open Road Films (II) | Release Date: November 14, 2014

7.3	USER SCORE Generally favorable reviews based on 43 Ratings

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Lily1Feb 15, 2015

Stunning bit of film making. Stewart demonstrates sensitivity and humanity, portraying every character with empathy and depth. There are no bad guys here –– this is beautifully aware writing and directing. In spite of it all, I found myselfStunning bit of film making. Stewart demonstrates sensitivity and humanity, portraying every character with empathy and depth. There are no bad guys here –– this is beautifully aware writing and directing. In spite of it all, I found myself delighted with the Iranian spirit and wanting to go there and meet those brave, resilient people.
And Jon, please keep writing and directing!… Expand

4 of 4 users found this helpful40

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DevilmathSep 27, 2015

During summer 2009, a troupe from satirical Comedy Central program The Daily Show travelled to Iran to shot a farcical reportage of the upcoming elections. The story featured Iranian Canadian journalist Maziar Bahari, jokingly answering sillyDuring summer 2009, a troupe from satirical Comedy Central program The Daily Show travelled to Iran to shot a farcical reportage of the upcoming elections. The story featured Iranian Canadian journalist Maziar Bahari, jokingly answering silly questions from a comedian pretending to be an American spy. A few days later, after the show aired the taped segment, the Iranian government arrested and imprisoned Bahari. The journalist was charged with 11 counts of espionage, accused of “working for four different intelligence agencies: the CIA, Mossad, MI6 and Newsweek”. Bahari was held in prison for 118 days; physically and pshychologically tortured, threatened, forced to confess his supposed wrongdoings on TV, and eventually realeased only when international pressure became overwhelming. In 2013 Jon Stewart, The Daily Show’s executive producer and host, decided to write and direct Rosewater, inspired by Bahari’s imprisonment memoir “Then They Came for Me”. First presented at the Telluride and Toronto film festivals, Rosewater immediately distinguishes itself for its relevance to current events and its unusual style and perspective. The film, already famous for marking Stewart’s cinematic debut, was also the Gala title of the “Debate” selection at this year’s London Film Festival.

Starring Spanish Gael García Bernal as Bahari, Rosewater begins with the journalist’s arrival in Iran, following him all through his imprisonment, and finally his release and return to London. Bahari’s job as reporter for the BBC takes him on a journey across Teheran, as explained in a solid and rich first act. The sequences showing the upright political activism of Iranian communities, the showdown between Ahmadinejad and Mir-Hossein Mousavi, and the civil unrest after Ahmadinejad’s victory declaration are all very touching, and Stewart manages to illustrate them flawlessly. When Bahari reaches the prison, though, the film suddenly loses all its charm. The farcical tone that Stewart tries hard to maintain throughout the story is probably his biggest mistake. It’s easy and liberating to laugh at the incoherences of the government’s oppression, especially when its perverse authoritarianism is conveyed through its out-of-touch pretentiousness and clownish bigotry. When slapstick comedy and funny jokes happen during brutal interrogation scenes, though, the film clearly shows all its weakness and Stewart’s lack of judgment.

Jon Stewart proves to be a confident director, to a certain extent better than many other newcomers; most of them, however, probably don’t have as many resources at their disposal. Despite some interesting directorial ideas, Stewart’s screenwriting needs major rethinking. There’s too much forced and amateurish will to sound smart, and too few occasions where Rosewater comes across as a convincing feature. Even if we overlook the debatable awkwardness of an American film questioning Middle-Eastern freedom of expression, and pass over the schlocky, outdated gimmick of having Iranians speaking to each other in English with a foreign accent, we are still left with a muddled and anticlimactic film. What really drags Rosewater down is the inadequacy of the second act: the conflict between prisoner and jailer lacks depth and suspense, especially considering that the outcome (the liberation and survival of Bahari) is well known; Stewart’s expedients, both humorous and dramatic, fail to maintain an engaging enough pace. Regardless of its quality, Rosewater still deserves praise for its irreverent vein, and the idea of making fun of what most terrifies us. For his future projects, Stewart might want to reconsider his pre-production choices, while definitely keeping up the same passion and will to challenge himself.… Expand

1 of 1 users found this helpful10

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mjkelly93Nov 18, 2014

Jon Stewart kills it with his directing debut. Excellent story line, acting, and over all film. I think New York Post is just trying to get back at Stewart for years of him taking jabs at their rag of a newspaper.

4 of 5 users found this helpful41

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Brent_MarchantNov 15, 2014

Jon Stewart's debut feature is a knockout piece of filmmaking, one that tells a riveting story without becoming cliched or preachy yet undeniably gets its point across, often with surprising wit and nuance. Gael Garcia Bernal adds anotherJon Stewart's debut feature is a knockout piece of filmmaking, one that tells a riveting story without becoming cliched or preachy yet undeniably gets its point across, often with surprising wit and nuance. Gael Garcia Bernal adds another impressive showing to his growing resume of underrated performances. This picture is easily one of the year's most pleasant surprises and shows Stewart is off to a great start as a writer-director.… Expand

3 of 4 users found this helpful31

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TVJerryNov 19, 2014

Maziar Bahari is best know for his appearance on "The Daily Show" that got him arrested and placed into solitary in his home country of Iran. Jon Stewart wrote/directed this film featuring Gael García Bernal and he did a pretty good job. TheMaziar Bahari is best know for his appearance on "The Daily Show" that got him arrested and placed into solitary in his home country of Iran. Jon Stewart wrote/directed this film featuring Gael García Bernal and he did a pretty good job. The basic structure is solid and there are creative touches that show a sound understanding of the medium. It's an effectively told story, but lacks the emotional punch that would have given the days in solitary more impact. Still, it's an interesting story and a promising first effort that includes an earnest message about the freedom of speech and plight of political prisoners.… Expand

2 of 3 users found this helpful21

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Jess_HillJul 12, 2015

This is a moving tibute to the plight of Maziar Bahari and his imprisonment in Iran for his apparent status as an 'American spy' following his contribution to a comedy sketch for The Daily Show with Jon Stewart. Written and directed byThis is a moving tibute to the plight of Maziar Bahari and his imprisonment in Iran for his apparent status as an 'American spy' following his contribution to a comedy sketch for The Daily Show with Jon Stewart. Written and directed by Stewart, the film chronicles Bahari's internment and provides a poignant commentary on the restrictions and difficulties faced by both journalists and citizens under the current Iranian regime. The story is compelling and the performances are excellent, though the pacing is somewhat flawed, and the cinematography and artistic inclusion of representations of 'social media' which are interspersed are somewhat contrived. Undoubtedly, this is an important story to tell, and the depiction of Bahari's struggle is worth devoting your time to. 6.89/10… Expand

1 of 2 users found this helpful11

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