GYLLENHALL: Actor says his new film, 'Rendition,' shows that torture is wrong
Associated Press
ROME (AP) _ Jake Gyllenhaal said Sunday his new movie, "Rendition," shows that torture is wrong, but it also questions whether it might help save lives in the fight against terrorism.
The film, which also stars Reese Witherspoon and Meryl Streep, focuses on the practice of extraordinary renditions, or transferring terrorism suspects to other countries where their interrogators could abuse or torture them.
The U.S. government has said it only uses renditions after it is assured that transferred prisoners will not be subjected to torture.
The movie tells the story of an Egyptian-born man suspected of involvement in a Middle East bombing who is abducted by U.S. authorities and sent overseas for questioning at a secret facility.
"It says that torture is wrong. I think you can see in the film that it does not work," Gyllenhaal told a news conference after the movie was screened at the Rome Film Festival.
"But I also think it presents the political side of it, too, which is saying that you could be torturing one innocent man, but at the same time 5,000 people are alive ... because of information that the government elicited through (extraordinary) rendition."
Gyllenhaal plays a CIA analyst who comes to question the U.S. government's sanctioning of the practice.
Director Gavin Hood, whose South African drama "Tsotsi" won the 2005 foreign-language Oscar, said he hoped the film would spark debate about the practice of extraordinary renditions.
"It is easy to talk about arbitrary detention and enhanced interrogation techniques and all these fancy words in the abstract," Hood said. "(Then) we realize that in fact it is about people, not just the people to who it happens, but the people who are involved in having to do this."
Photos
U.S. actor Jake Gyllenhaal waves before the screening of the movie "Rendition" at the Rome Film Festival, Sunday, Oct. 21, 2007. (AP Photo/Riccardo De Luca) RICCARDO DE LUCA/(Click for larger image)
FOREMAN & LABORERS Basement Waterproofing co. needs a foreman & laborers for expanding business, exp. w/interior drain tile a plus, 471-723...>MORE
Used Car Lot Helper USED CAR Lot Helper misc. duties, valid driver’s license, great work environment. For details 731-2319 ask for Mr. Dan...>MORE
Warehouse Warehouse, Assembly Production & Cleaning 1st, 2nd & 3rd shifts Sanborn, Grand Island Amherst & Tona...>MORE
MST Therapists Catholic Charities has an excellent professional development opportunity available for the following position: MST ...>MORE
SHIPPING CLERK Shipping Clerk, p/t, 30-35 hrs. wk., exp. in warehouse environment, knowledge of Word/Excel, data entry, UPS, freight ch...>MORE
Marriage Counselor Catholic Charities has an excellent professional development opportunity available for the following position: ...>MORE
Driver DRIVERS – CDL A TEAM DRIVERS NEEDED FOR DEDICATED RUNS No touch freight............Good miles ...>MORE
Hospitality/Tourism Instructor Hospitality/Tourism. NIAGARA COUNTY COMMUNITY COLLEGE is seeking applications for part-time instructor to teach hospita...>MORE
Sales Interviews SALES. Joe Cecconi's Chrysler Complex, 2380 Military Road, Niagara Falls, NY 14304. Joe Cecconi's offers: Excellent pay ...>MORE
Cook COOK full time. Apply in person only, Augie’s Diner, 2470 Military Rd. ...>MORE
Print this story
E-mail this story
