Many years ago an Iranian journalist called Maziar Bahari was interviewed by Jason Jones as part of a bit for the Daily Show. When that same journalist was later arrested and held for supposedly being part in a Western-led coordination of protests against the Government, this section of the show was a part of the evidence used against him, since it appeared to show him meeting with a spy. As a viewer of the Daily Show, the repeated mentions of the film made me interested to see it – not to mention that the time away from the show for Stewart already had the bonus of helping John Oliver get his own show over on HBO. Anyway, the story, and the chance to see the outcome of this period away for Stewart, made me interested to see it when it finally reached the UK or a limited release.
The film opens with Bahari's arrest, and then flashed back to the events in Iran that led up to this, including the aforementioned interview. As a structure it is interesting because it does fill out the events at the time, and also some of the history of the character's family (which also serves as a way of accessing the recent history of Iran in some small ways). In the telling there are a few rather clumsy devices in there, and also at times a strange mix of drama and humor; not all of it works particularly well, and the second half of the film specifically seems a bit too earnest and straight in its telling. The torture and detainment toys with showing the horror, and also showing the boredom, fear, and longing, but all of these things are played equally and as a result it seems a bit too "normal" in terms of delivery. As the film progressed the more it became about events, and when the detainment is continuing, there are not so many "events" to engage, and surprisingly I found the film a little padded and lacking in edge and emphasis in the second half.
The use of foreign actors to play Iranians has been mentioned, but generally whatever their nationality the cast play the roles well within the confines of Stewart's direction. Garcia Bernal is a good presence in the lead role; likewise Bodnia works well in the second half – although neither really get to make a huge impact due to the slight flat or sincere tone of the film. Supporting turns are solid from Aghdashloo, Leonidas, Bilginer and others – albeit again, some of them are rather hampered by what the film is doing. Technically the film looks good, and has some good shots, but it does consistently lack an impact – particularly in the second half (which is really where it should have enabled some great scenes between Bodnia and Bernal).
It is an interesting film, but not a wholly successful one. The first half is event driven and engages as it tells a personal story with links to a much bigger one, but the whole second half of the film lacks impact and emphasis – feeling a little bit too earnest and surprisingly lacking in a clear voice as to what it is telling.
The film opens with Bahari's arrest, and then flashed back to the events in Iran that led up to this, including the aforementioned interview. As a structure it is interesting because it does fill out the events at the time, and also some of the history of the character's family (which also serves as a way of accessing the recent history of Iran in some small ways). In the telling there are a few rather clumsy devices in there, and also at times a strange mix of drama and humor; not all of it works particularly well, and the second half of the film specifically seems a bit too earnest and straight in its telling. The torture and detainment toys with showing the horror, and also showing the boredom, fear, and longing, but all of these things are played equally and as a result it seems a bit too "normal" in terms of delivery. As the film progressed the more it became about events, and when the detainment is continuing, there are not so many "events" to engage, and surprisingly I found the film a little padded and lacking in edge and emphasis in the second half.
The use of foreign actors to play Iranians has been mentioned, but generally whatever their nationality the cast play the roles well within the confines of Stewart's direction. Garcia Bernal is a good presence in the lead role; likewise Bodnia works well in the second half – although neither really get to make a huge impact due to the slight flat or sincere tone of the film. Supporting turns are solid from Aghdashloo, Leonidas, Bilginer and others – albeit again, some of them are rather hampered by what the film is doing. Technically the film looks good, and has some good shots, but it does consistently lack an impact – particularly in the second half (which is really where it should have enabled some great scenes between Bodnia and Bernal).
It is an interesting film, but not a wholly successful one. The first half is event driven and engages as it tells a personal story with links to a much bigger one, but the whole second half of the film lacks impact and emphasis – feeling a little bit too earnest and surprisingly lacking in a clear voice as to what it is telling.