Extraordinary Rendition

Extraordinary Rendition is a classic example of a work of art that depends entirely upon its subject matter for its appeal. It takes a controversial and sensitive political issue and creates a film in which nothing - not the script, cinematography, direction, or acting - is sufficiently good or even suited to such a subject.

For any newspaper-reading viewer the title of the film is explicit enough that little plot or narrative need be given (in the film or in this review). But for others, Extraordinary Rendition tells the shocking story of Zaafir (Omar Berdouni - United 93), an intelligent young teacher, who is inexplicably abducted from the streets of London, locked up in a cargo container, flown to an unknown destination, interrogated and tortured before being released without apology or explanation. Whilst it is noble and necessary to make a film about such horrific occurences, it is also important to judge a film as a film and not as a political polemic, or simply commending it for having been made.

This film is sensationalist and crude, has little character development and severely over-simplifies the issues it is grappling with. Director Jim Threapleton, it seems, has squeezed in all the awkward shots and lighting tricks he could possibly fit in, and whilst he is clearly trying to shock his viewers in order to raise awareness, he succeeds only in shocking them. Extraordinary Rendition is an ambitious film that falls short in many ways.