Rendition Character: Isabella El-Ibrahimi Year: 2007 Release Date October 19, 2007 (US, UK) Directed By: Gavin Hood Screenwriter: Kelley Sane Genre: Drama / Thriller MPAA Rating: n/a Cast Highlights: ...Jake Gyllenhaal ...Meryl Streep ...Peter Sarsgaard ...Alan Arkin Filming Locations: Cape Town, South Africa Los Angeles, California, USA Marrakech, Morocco Washington, District of Columbia, USA

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A thriller that centers on Isabella El-Ibrahimi (Reese Witherspoon), the American wife of Egyptian-born chemical engineer Anwar El-Ibrahimi (Omar Metwally), who disappears on a flight from South Africa to Washington. Isabella desperately tries to track her husband down, while a CIA analyst (Jake Gyllenhaal) at a secret detention facility outside the U.S. is forced to question his assignment as he becomes party to the man's unorthodox interrogation. Definition: extraordinary rendition - The practice of seizing and transferring a criminal suspect to a country where covert interrogation and torture are allowed, esp. in relation to suspected terrorists; also called irregular rendition. Extraordinary rendition is a procedure whereby criminal suspects are sent for interrogation from one country to a second country, where less strict laws governing interrogation apply. (More information on 'extraordinary rendition' at Reference.com)

• The film had it's world premiere at the Toronto International Film Festival on September 7, 2007. • Reese researched her role by meeting with Muslim Americans, finding communities on the internet and reading books. • Co-producer Mark Martin says he initially had actress Cate Blanchett in mind for the role of Isabella El-Ibrahimi, but Steve Golin, one of the producing partners, says he saw Reese in the role right away. • Numourous rumors of an on-set romance between Jake Gyllenhaal and Reese Witherspoon came out quickly, as soon as the movie was filming. It's funny they even got stirred up considering they don't even share one scene together. • The topic of “extraordinary rendition” was a daily topic of discussion on the set – from the actors to the filmmakers to the international crew. It remained a hot button issue that fueled a lot of differing opinions. • It was rumored that Reese was required to speak Arabic in a few scenes but we do not see this in the final product. • Shooting began mid-November 2006 in Washington, D.C., L.A., Morocco, and Capetown, South Africa.

• "I need someone to look me in the eye and tell me exactly what it is they say he's done!" • "Please don't walk away from me. You have my husband... Just tell me he's okay!"

- "I was also drawn to the role of Isabella because I have a lot of curiosity about what it must be like to be living as part of a Muslim family in America. We have a lot of ideas about certain religions, and a lot of fear has been propagated. I was interested in dispelling some of that fear." On researching the role - "I found communities on the internet and read books, It’s fascinating to me that in this country we have so many different kinds of people and as many different religions. It’s part of the real beauty of America that people are allowed to practice religion without prejudice. But, then again, since 9/11, it has clearly been a more difficult situation for some families." On Meryl Streep - "Working with Meryl – wWow! I’ve been lucky enough to meet her socially, so I knew she was a doll. She is honestly the nicest person, so lovely and gifted, but also a wonderful mother and completely down to earth." - "My reaction when I first learned of 'extraordinary rendition' was pretty much disbelief that it was happening, It just doesn't seem altogether American, to detain people without due process, and without the opportunity to be charged with a crime and to go through a proper trial. And that there is no legal recourse for people who have endured this type of torture is shocking. I am really proud to be part of a project that is bringing this practice to the public’s attention. At the same time, it’s a very complicated issue. I’m an actor. I can’t even imagine what it would be like to have the responsibility for maintaining national security. There are always two sides of every coin, and I hope this movie shows both sides of this issue." - "It doesn't smash people over the head with a message — you're not even sure if the husband is innocent or guilty — which is one of the reasons I wanted to do it. It represents different cultures in a real human way." - "Meryl Streep's character is making huge decisions about public policy without any sort of counsel or caucus. The fallout on a human level is so severe and it reverberates throughout so many communities and aspects of life. We're all just a hair’s breath away from something really tragic." - "I think that’s what really drew me to the part and the script, you see so much stuff on the news and you just don’t connect to it anymore." On director Gavin Hood - "I think he brought a great perspective to this film because he is a South African living in America. He has a real 'stranger in a strange land' perspective and he really encouraged me in my part. He wanted her not to be self-pitying, not be vulnerable." On director Gavin Hood - "He had very personal experiences in his own country regarding friends who had disappeared. He was in a very similar place to where my character was. So his direction was invaluable. He really helped me understand." - "We become more anesthetized as we see more news and coverage of things that I just don’t connect to anymore...it feels like the suicide bombings are so prolific and sometimes you don’t find the stories of reverberation, and how the families are affected." - "There’s not as much of a human face on these issues, and reading the script, I thought what better way than to have the family members, the spouses, the mothers and fathers and their experiences throughout the film so you really do understand the ramifications of some of these actions." "Is it nice not to be the star of the movie?" - “Well, I am, I guess. I'm the woman. I'm the moral center. But I can do it! Bring it on! I can handle it! Where are all the real women in movies? Have you noticed, they're just not there?"

- "The movie is about somebody you love disapearing, and Reese is such a beloved actress - she’s such a girl-next-door type, only more beautiful - it makes what she goes through more relatable." - Steve Golin (Producer) - "Obviously Reese is a real all-American girl next door, I think she is someone everyone can relate to…if this scenario can happen to Reese, it can happen to anyone." - Steve Golin (Producer) - "I'm still feeling intimidated because I’m not used to this or these guys." - Gavin Hood (Director) - "Reese is incredibly disciplined and is always completely prepared, She knows exactly where she is going. The only thing that was difficult for us was that it was my first experience working with an actress of her caliber and her fame – so I'd never before experienced the sight of the paparazzi all over the place!" - Gavin Hood (Director)