Imagine sitting in a little cube-sized hole with nothing to eat, drink or wear. Then you are repeatedly tortured with various cruel and unusual methods - forced to confess a crime not committed, all because of a last name.
The new film Rendition vividly illustrates the capture and torture of an Egyptian-born, American chemical engineer named Anwar El-Ibrahim, played by Omar Metwally (Munich).
El-Ibrahim is taken hostage by the American government, as he is believed to be linked to various terrorist attacks and a radical Islamic organization.
The movie deals with the idea of "extraordinary rendition," or the ability of the American government to extradite certain people from one country to another if it is believed that they have been involved in terrorism or are linked to terrorism in any way.
In the film, extraordinary rendition is portrayed as torturing people in cruel and unusual ways where suspects are usually detained for days without the option of any legal aid or assistance; thus, skillfully raising questions about the harsh reality of the American government and its adherence to the Bill of Rights.
Although the producers of Rendition never explicitly state it, this fictional movie bears a strong resemblance to the actions of the US government in 2002, when a Syrian-born software engineer, Maher Arar, was subjected to two weeks of captivity without any legal aid or assistance even though he was a naturalized Canadian citizen.
Isabella El-Ibrahimi, played by Academy Award-winner Reese Witherspoon (Penelope), is a suburban soccer mom with one goal in her mind: find her husband. Witherspoon's character is a refreshing twist in comparison to the confused girl and the ditzy blond characters for which the actress is infamous.
Two time award-winning actress Meryl Streep's (Evening) portrayal of a top CIA official, Corinne Whitman, only further shows her ability at playing a wide range of characters.
Jake Gyllenhaal (Zodiac), no stranger to controversial films, plays the crucial character Douglass Freeman.
Causing a stir in the industry for his 2005 performance in Brokeback Mountain, Gyllenhall is in his character-niche here, using his experience to play a young CIA operative trying to uncover government policies. His warm-hearted performance leads him to be the hero of the film.
The film's director, Gavin Hood (Tsotsi), does another spectacular job of using a simplified set while involving and enticing the audience with controversial content.
Rendition's graphic depiction of torture and cruel and unusual punishment makes it impossible to sit and watch without feeling a twinge of sadness or even disgust. Although this tearjerker is not explicitly prejudicial to any particular group of people, it is meant to be controversial.
There might be many who view this movie as an attack against Islam's beliefs, however the film actually bears a message against all extremist terrorist groups, whatever faith they might follow.
This film is definitely a must-see and, unlike many other movies about terrorism, Rendition actually strikes a nerve, showing viewers the American government torturing fellow citizens.
Photo: Courtesy of Laron Fomby
