Rendition DVD Review

Rendition is one of those quietly powerful films that makes an impact, but only if it’s actually seen. The film is about Anwar El-Ibrahimi (played by Omar Metwally), an Egyptian-American who is traveling for work and on his way home to his wife Isabella (played by Reese Witherspoon) and son Jeremy (played by Aramis Knight).

Suddenly, he is detained by American officials en route from South Africa to Chicago, and then undergoes “extraordinary rendition,” a controversial practice that refers to the ability of the CIA to arrest any individuals it suspects of terrorist dealings, take those individuals to an undisclosed location, and interrogate and torture them for an indefinite period of time, all without due process of law. Not only that, but because it happens under the radar, those individuals essentially disappear, leaving their families and loved ones to wonder what happened.

In steps young analyst Douglas Freeman (played by Jake Gyllenhaal), who has something to prove to his boss and himself. Behind the scenes but pulling the strings is Senator Corrine Whitman (played by Meryl Streep, who does cold so well), who firmly believes that upholding the right to rendition is the right thing to do. Even when she is confronted by Isabella, Streep’s Whitman is calm, cool and collect, telling the young mother that she is sorry for the woman’s trouble, but she knows nothing regarding the disappearance of her husband.

The film also stars Peter Sarsgaard, playing an ex boyfriend of Isabella’s, Alan Smith, who works in the office of Senator Hawkins (played by Alan Arkin), and who she turns to for help, hoping his political ties can pull some strings, or at least find out where her husband is and what happened to him.

Director Gavin Hood, who directed Tsotsi in 2005 and won an Academy Award for his efforts, brings to Rendition sensitivity and perspective from both sides that will leave viewers thinking about rendition and Rendition long after the film is over.

The film is presented in 2.35:1 anamorphic transfer, with audio in Dolby Digital 5.1 and optional Dolby 2.0, as well as optional English and Spanish subtitles.

Extras include a commentary track from Gavin Hood. The standout of the extras is definitely the documentary “Outlawed: Extraordinary Rendition, Torture and Disappearances in the ‘War on Terror’,” which was directed by Gillian Caldwell (independently of the feature film production) and features interviews with rendition survivors who were branded guilty without due process. The featurette “Intersections: The Making of Rendition” features typical behind-the-scenes stuff and rounds out the extras.

Rendition does not back down, instead it tackles a controversial subject head on, bringing to light a practice that most citizens in the U.S. probably know little to nothing about. In a nation founded on the credo “civil liberties for all”, Rendition raises questions about what is being done in the name of terrorism. The film makes you think–just because rendition is now acceptable practice, is it morally right? And can someone (me? you?) turn away from doing what’s right, no matter the personal cost?