Gael Garcia Bernal’s latest film will hit U.S. theaters in November.
Open Road Films has announced plans to release Rosewater, starring the 35-year-old Mexican actor, on November 7.
The directorial debut from The Daily Show’s Jon Stewart, the film is an adaptation of BBC journalist Maziar Bahari’s book Then They Came For Me: A Family’s Story Of Love, Captivity And Survival.
The true story follows the Tehran-born journalist, a Canadian citizen living in London. In June 2009, he returned to Iran to interview Mir-Hossein Moussavi, who was the prime challenger to controversial incumbent president Mahmoud Ahmadinejad. As Moussavi’s supporters rose up to protest Ahmadinejad’s victory declaration hours before the polls closed on election day, Bahari endured great personal risk by submitting camera footage of the unfolding street riots to the BBC. Bahari was soon arrested by Revolutionary Guard police, led by a man identifying himself only as “Rosewater,” who proceeded to torture and interrogate the journalist over the next 118 days. Iranian authorities released Bahari on $300,000 bail and the promise he would act as a spy for the government.
Garcia Bernal stars as Bahari in the film.
Stewart penned the script and took a summer break from his popular Comedy Central show to direct it.
Open Road acquired the U.S. distribution rights in May to Rosewaterafter a private showing to select buyers at the Cannes Film Festival.