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Parents' Guide to

Rendition

By Cynthia Fuchs, Common Sense Media Reviewer

age 16+

Over-simplified drama takes hard look at torture.

Movie R 2007 121 minutes
Rendition Poster Image

A Lot or a Little?

What you will—and won't—find in this movie.

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age 15+

Based on 3 parent reviews

wonder dove
wonder dove Adult
April 12, 2013
age 15+

Depressing...

This was a good film but very depressing and dark. It makes you think and feel for the characters. It is not very action packed and sometimes slow moving. If you're up for something quite sad yet disturbing, this is it. There is a lot of anger in this story. The ending was better than I had expected though still sad. There is some subtitles throughout this movie including the opening scenes. Violence is very heavy and frightening which includes bombings, explosions, a gory shooting, major torture, brutal beatings including being electrocuted, disturbing photos, killings and dead bodies. Sexual content has kissing, a woman in a towel and a half naked man make-out in a bathroom, more kissing, implied nudity but nothing sensitive shown. Language includes "f' words throughout. There's drinking, smoking including cigars and a drug scene although I don't remember seeing it (obviously not graphic). Great acting! The story is intense so I would not recommend viewers under 16.
Zhash
Zhash Adult
November 10, 2012
age 15+

Great movie.

Rated R for torture/violence and language
See all 3 parent reviews

What's the Story?

In the politically-charged RENDITION, CIA caseworker Douglas Freeman (Jake Gyllenhaal) is torn between his ambition and idealism -- he knows that the CIA acts illicitly to achieve great goals, but he still believes he can behave honorably. After he witnesses a colleague's bloody suicide bombing death, Douglas is asked to oversee the interrogation of a suspect. Anwar El-Ibrahimi (Omar Metwally) appears to be an Egyptian-born engineer and nothing more, causing Douglas to wonder about his own pursuit of the truth at all costs. Back in D.C., Freeman confesses to boss Corinne (Meryl Streep) that he's not sure if his "first torture" is going well. Camille insists repeatedly that the U.S. doesn't torture. Technically, this is true, for Anwar's primary abuser is an Egyptian, Abasi Fawel (Igal Naor). Anwar is eventually sent to Abasi's secret prison, where he continues to claim his innocence. Anwar's wife Isabella (Reese Witherspoon) heads to D.C. to seek help from ex-boyfriend and senator's aide, Alan (Peter Sarsgaard). Alan briefly wonders about Anwar, but Isabella urges him to dig into the case -- and even confront the imperious Corrinne. As U.S. officials keep getting their aims, motives, and methods dead wrong, Isabella embodies what's "right." Meanwhile, Abasi's rebellious daughter, Fatima (Zineb Oukach), is in love with Khalid El-Emin (Moa Khouas). At first she doesn't know he's a jihadist, but eventually she has to face the consequences of her dedication to him -- and his own dedication to a violent cause. Torn between ambition and idealism, knows that the CIA acts illicitly to achieve great goals, but he still believes he can behave honorably. After he witnesses a colleague's bloody suicide bombing death, Douglas is asked to oversee the interrogation of a suspect. Anwar El-Ibrahimi (Omar Metwally) appears to be an Egyptian-born engineer and nothing more, causing Douglas to wonder about his own pursuit of the truth at all costs. Back in D.C., Freeman confesses to boss Corinne (Meryl Streep) that he's not sure if his "first torture" is going well. Camille insists repeatedly that the U.S. doesn't torture. Technically, this is true, for Anwar's primary abuser is an Egyptian, Abasi Fawel (Igal Naor). Anwar is eventually sent to Abasi's secret prison, where he continues to claim his innocence. Anwar's wife Isabella (Reese Witherspoon) heads to D.C. to seek help from ex-boyfriend and senator's aide, Alan (Peter Sarsgaard). Alan briefly wonders about Anwar, but Isabella urges him to dig into the case -- and even confront the imperious Corrinne. As U.S. officials keep getting their aims, motives, and methods dead wrong, Isabella embodies what's "right." Meanwhile, Abasi's rebellious daughter, Fatima (Zineb Oukach), is in love with Khalid El-Emin (Moa Khouas). At first she doesn't know he's a jihadist, but eventually she has to face the consequences of her dedication to him -- and his own dedication to a violent cause.

Is It Any Good?

Our review:
Parents say (3 ):
Kids say (1 ):

Anguished and well-meaning, this film raises questions concerning American use of torture. While it represents the dire threat of jihadist terrorism (here, a suicide bomb in an unidentified North African city that kills civilians and a CIA agent), Gavin Hood's film also challenges the effectiveness of torture as a way to fight back. But the overly simplified story focuses solely on the moral agonies and stubborn heroism of white U.S. citizens, mainly the very visible struggles of significantly named Freeman , while the film's most compelling plot about the Abasi family's struggles takes a back seat.

Talk to Your Kids About ...

  • Families can talk about how the movie portrays the practice of torture. As viewers sort out their own feelings about what he goes through, does it matter whether Anwar is guilty or innocent? How is watching torture different than seeing other types of media violence? Should anti-torture laws ever be sacrificed for security?

Movie Details

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