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Two missing Ashland teens planned to run away, police say ... MOVIE REVIEW Stewart crafts a fine film in 'Rosewater' By Chris Honoré for Revels DailyTidings.com By Chris Honoré for Revels Posted Nov. 20, 2014 @ 12:01 am By Chris Honoré for Revels Posted Nov. 20, 2014 @ 12:01 am » Social News Written and directed by Jon Stewart, “Rosewater” is based on the 2011 memoir, “Then They Came For Me,” by Maziar Bahari, an Iranian-born journalist based in London and working for Newsweek magazine. The title of the book is taken from the writings of German pastor Martin Niemoller who, during World War II, wrote, “First they came for the socialists, and I did not speak out — because I was not a socialist. Then they came for the Trade Unionists and I did not speak out — because I was not a Trade Unionist. Then they came for the Jews and I did not speak out — because I was not a Jew. Then they came for me — and there was no one left to speak for me.” Though Niemoller was referring to the tyranny of the Nazis, those who came for journalist Bahari (Gael Garcia Bernal) were no less arbitrary in their need to crush any perceived opposition. And though he was in Tehran on assignment to cover the elections of 2009, and though he bore witness using interviews and film of the people on the streets, and though he was not involved in what would quickly evolve into what was referred to as the “Green Revolution,” he was nevertheless taken from the home of his mother and incarcerated in Evin prison and charged with espionage. And thus began his 118-day ordeal of blindfolded isolation and interrogation, one in which he was led to believe that he was completely alone; no one on the outside knew about his arrest except his mother and she did not care. He was alone, held at the mercy of a theocratic police state that was under no obligation to offer him counsel or a hearing. His degradation and torture would continue without end. His only contact was with a man he came to call Rosewater (Kim Bodnia), after the cologne he wore. A low-level functionary whose place was not to be concerned about the surreal reasons for Bahari’s imprisonment, but to do anything necessary to make him confess to his complicity with foreign intelligence agencies. As you likely know, “Rosewater” was written and directed by Stewart, who took a summer off to shoot the film in Jordan (the stand-in for Tehran). Making it represented a risk for him and all associated with the production. The outcome was solid filmmaking, the story chilling but never melodramatically over-the-top. It’s also possible that Stewart felt some responsibility to tell Bahari’s story, for it was the journalist’s interview on "The Daily Show” that his captors used as evidence of his involvement with spies (as it turned out, the television sketch was meant to be satirical). If there is a theme that transcends the personal courage and resilience required of Bahari to survive physically and mentally, and emerge from this harrowing experience intact, it is that the Rosewaters, hollowed out human beings who have long ago abandoned their humanity, are always with us, prepared to execute without hesitation their orders, whatever they be. Iran is not atypical; rather it is but one example made manifest. As it turns out, Stewart’s film is indeed a finely told cautionary tale. Rosewater 103 min Rated R   By Chris Honoré for Revels DailyTidings.com By Chris Honoré for Revels Posted Nov. 20, 2014 @ 12:01 am » Comment or view comments Reader Reaction » STAY INFORMED Email NewsLetter Sign Up Today Sign up for our newsletter and have the top headlines from your community delivered right to your inbox. calendar Connect with DailyTidings.com Facebook Twitter RSS Back to top Reader Services Reader Services home Subscriptions Subscriber controls Contact us Submissions Photos Events Letters to the editor Corrections Alerts Email alerts RSS feeds Text Alerts Advertise Media Kit Home Products and services Ad rates Advertising contacts Mail Tribune Daily Tidings The Nickel Shop Our Valley Blogs Stay Informed Email newsletter Sign Up Today Sign up for our newsletter and have the top headlines from your community delivered right to your inbox. Your privacy is important, read our privacy policy. © Copyright 2014 Local Media Group, Inc. All Rights Reserved. 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