The term extraordinary rendition has entered the public consciousness in recent years, and now a micro-budget British feature aims to add to the debate about the controversial practice. (The term refers to the transportation of suspected terrorists from 'civilised' western states to areas of the world where the law is less stringent about the treatment of prisoners.) Made with a little money but a lot of heart, Extraordinary Rendition is a debut feature for assistant director-turned-helmer Jim Threapleton and premiered at the Edinburgh International Film Festival on Tuesday 21st August.

A harrowing and unrelentingly harsh look at the treatment of one man, the film is a raw and visceral experience that is not for the faint-hearted - but then, that's the point. After playing terrorists in acclaimed dramas The Hamburg Cell (for Antonia Bird) and United 93 (for Paul Greengrass), Omar Berdouni gets to explore the other side of the equation as an innocent man who's abducted and then subjected to vile abuse at the hands of his nameless captors in a Middle-Eastern country (Andy Serkis plays the interrogator determined to extract a confession out of him, one way or another).

In the video above, we talk to Jim Threapleton, Omar Bedouni and producer Andy Noble to find out more about the improvised production.

Adrian Hennigan | Published 22 August 07

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