Jon Stewart’s directorial debut, Rosewater is based on a memoir by Iranian-Canadian journalist Maziar Bahari. Arrested by Iranian authorities in the summer of 2009, Bahari (Gael Garcia Bernal) was covering the growing wave of protests that followed the reelection of then-president Mahmoud Ahmadinejad—an outcome widely denounced as fraud. Bahari is visited at his mother’s home, and arrested as a foreign spy. He is imprisoned for 118 days, endlessly questioned by an ex-revolutionary turned interrogator he dubbed “Rosewater” because of his scent. Though capable of violence, Rosewater is more interested in crushing Bahari’s spirit than his body. The early scenes between the two men simmer with tension and uneasiness. It’s a battle of wills Bahari will most certainly lose unless he can find some source of hope to sustain him.

As a director, Stewart shows undeniable promise. He understands that this is a story that requires a simple approach. During the pivotal interrogation scenes, his sparse camera movements keep the focus almost solely on the two men. Rosewater becomes an intimate tale, told at close range. It feels as if we are inside Bahari’s mind as he struggles to stay grounded in reality.

Several scenes in which Bahari gains strength from advice given to him by visions of his dead father and sister, each jailed by a previous regime, work well, adding some unexpected humor to the proceedings. While some may criticize Jon Stewart for an apparent lack of visual flare, the straightforward approach works for a story that plainly doesn’t call for many fireworks. Stewart also deserves credit for making it clear that what Bahari experienced in prison was a cinch compared to those without international connections to spread their plight.

While this isn’t one of his great performances in league with Y Tu Mamá También and Amores Perros, he manages to make the strain of confinement and the accompanying mental anguish, seem real. One sequence, of Bahari gleefully expressing himself to a Leonard Cohen tune, provides a welcome moment of levity.

If Rosewater has an obvious weakness, it’s in Jon Stewart’s screenplay. His dialogue feels a bit labored at times, which isn’t that surprising given the ideological passion of the story. It’s likely many non-political viewers will find themselves turned off by Rosewater within the first few minutes. That being said, Stewart has more than proven himself as a writer already, and he certainly has the chops to direct. Here’s hoping he gets behind the camera again.

Presented in the 1.85:1 aspect ratio, Universal Studios has provided Rosewater with a solid 1080p presentation. Detail is impressive throughout, no matter the setting. Depth is impressive, as you get a good sense of Bahari’s isolation. Blacks are deep and inky, and colors vibrant when they come into play. Flesh tones look natural and there are no artifacts, or DNR apparent.

The English DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1 track provides a solid audio presentation. The soundstage is fairly expansive, delivering crisp, precise dialogue from the center. Howard Shore’s score has some nice heft behind it, without ever interfering with vocals. When employed, the surrounds have a nice sense of directionality. For a character driven drama, this is a fine setup.

English SDH, French, and Spanish subtitles are included.

The following extras are available:

  • Iran’s Controversial Election (HD, :48) Really not much here, A very quick overview of the event that brought Maziar Bahari to Iran.
  • The Story of Maziar Bahari (HD, :49) A very brief look at the background of Maziar Bahari.
  • Real Spies Have TV Shows (HD, :49) A brief look at how Bahari’s appearance on The Daily Show played a part in his imprisonment.
  • What Happens In New Jersey… (HD, :51) A brief look at a particular scene in the film.
  • A Director’s Perspective (HD, :51) Writer/director Jon Stewart discusses his favorite scene.
  • DVD of the film.
  • Digital Copy / UltraViolet