The Mauritanian (2021)
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A Mauritanian man held for years without charge in Guantanamo Bay seeks legal help to uncover the truth of his detention.
The story
In November 2001, Mohamedou Ould Slahi is in Mauritania when he is told by a policeman that Americans want to speak with him. By February 2005, his family discovers he is being held at the Guantanamo Bay detention camp, accused of organizing the September 11 attacks. Lawyer Nancy Hollander is approached by a French lawyer to investigate the case because she possesses a necessary security clearance. Nancy and her colleague Teri fly to Guantánamo to meet Mohamedou, who agrees to hire them as his lawyers while a Marine prosecutor attempts to corroborate the government's allegations against him.
Full plot (contains spoilers)
In November 2001, Mohamedou Ould Slahi is taken by Mauritanian police to the United States. In 2005, his family learns he is being held at Guantanamo Bay, accused of organizing 9/11. Lawyer Nancy Hollander takes the case. While Nancy meets with Mohamedou, Marine Prosecutor Stuart Couch attempts to build a case against him. Nancy discovers through Mohamedou's letters that he was subjected to torture and sexual assault by guards under orders from General Mandel; Mohamedou had given a false confession to stop the abuse. Stuart withdraws from the prosecution in disgust. In 2009, Mohamedou testifies via video link, and in 2010, a judge orders his release, though the government appeals, keeping him imprisoned for another seven years. His mother dies in 2013. He is finally released in 2016. The film ends with footage of the real Mohamedou returning to Mauritania, where he eventually marries an American lawyer and hopes for citizenship for their son.
- First release year
- 2021
- Runtime (minutes)
- 129
- Production countries
- United Kingdom; United States
- Original languages
- English; French; Arabic
- Directors
- Kevin Macdonald
- Writers
- M.B. Traven · screenplay; Rory Haines · screenplay; Sohrab Noshirvani · screenplay; M.B. Traven · story
- Cast and characters
- Jodie Foster; Tahar Rahim · Slahi; Shailene Woodley; Benedict Cumberbatch; Zachary Levi
- Genres
- legal drama
- Themes
- Injustice; Torture; Legal struggle; Human rights
- Tone and mood
- Dramatic; Serious
- Premise and plot tags
- Based on true events; Memoir adaptation; Prison drama
- Source material / true-story basis
- Guantánamo Diary by Mohamedou Ould Slahi
- Content notes
- Torture; Sexual assault
- Reception
- The film received mixed to positive reviews, with critics praising the direction, cinematography, and performances, particularly those of Tahar Rahim and Jodie Foster, while some criticized the screenplay.
- Reported review scores
- Rotten Tomatoes · score: 75% · review count: 217; Metacritic · score: 53 · scale: 100 · review count: 35
- Awards and nominations
- Golden Globe · Best Supporting Actress – Motion Picture · 78th · Win; Golden Globe · Best Actor – Motion Picture Drama · 78th · Nomination; British Academy Film Awards · Best Film · 74th · Nomination; British Academy Film Awards · Outstanding British Film · 74th · Nomination; British Academy Film Awards · Best Actor · 74th · Nomination
- Production trivia
- The film was originally known as Guantánamo Diary in early development and Prisoner 760 during production.; Filming began in South Africa.
Film metadata comes from the open sources listed in Credits & Contact. Catalogue details may be incomplete.
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