The Mauritanian
The Mauritanian

The Mauritanian

2021Movie129 minEnglish

The true story of the Mauritanian Mohamedou Ould Slahi, who was held at the U.S military's Guantanamo Bay detention center without charges for over a decade and sought help from a defense attorney for his release.

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Insights

IMDb7.4/10
Rotten Tomatoes70%
Metacritic61/100
Google Users82%
Director: Kevin MacdonaldGenres: Biography, Crime, Drama, History, Thriller, War

Plot Summary

The Mauritanian chronicles the ordeal of Mohamedou Ould Slahi, who is detained and tortured at Guantanamo Bay for years without being charged with any crime. As he awaits trial, he befriends a defense attorney, Nancy Hollander, who, along with her associate Teri Duncan, fights for justice on his behalf. The film also follows the prosecution's case, led by military prosecutor Lt. Col. Stuart Couch, who uncovers shocking truths that challenge the foundation of the case against Slahi.

Critical Reception

The Mauritanian received generally positive reviews from critics, who praised its performances, particularly from Tahar Rahim and Jodie Foster, and its important, albeit difficult, subject matter. Some critics found the narrative structure occasionally uneven, but most agreed on the film's emotional impact and its exploration of justice and human rights.

What Reviewers Say

  • Praised for its powerful performances, especially Tahar Rahim as the accused and Jodie Foster as his advocate.
  • Applauded for tackling a significant and often overlooked human rights issue with gravity and emotional weight.
  • While some found its pacing inconsistent, the film is widely seen as an important and compelling legal and human rights drama.

Google audience: Audiences largely appreciated the film's portrayal of a true story and its examination of the justice system. Viewers often highlighted the strong acting and the emotional impact of Mohamedou Ould Slahi's plight, with many finding it to be a thought-provoking and necessary film.

Awards & Accolades

Jodie Foster won a Golden Globe Award for Best Supporting Actress for her role. The film received multiple other nominations at various awards ceremonies, including Golden Globes and BAFTAs.

Fun Fact

Jodie Foster researched and prepared for her role by speaking with defense attorney Nancy Hollander and observing court proceedings related to Guantanamo Bay detainees.

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My Review

TMDB Reviews

4 reviews
CinemaSerf

CinemaSerf

Tahar Rahim and Kevin MacDonald have come some way since their first collaboration on "the Eagle" (2011). This one sees the former - Mohammed Ould Slahi - incarcerated, without charge, by the American authorities in Guantánamo Bay. His case...
AstroNoud

AstroNoud

Emotionally powerful thanks to the great actors (especially Rahim) and with a gripping true story, ‘The Mauritanian’ exceeds expectations, even if the overall film could have been a bit more polished. 9/10
Louisa Moore - Screen Zealots

Louisa Moore - S...

Based on the New York Times best-selling memoir “Guantánamo Diary” by Mohamedou Ould Slahi, “The Mauritanian” tells the true story of a man who spent 14 years of his life imprisoned without charges at the notorious United States military de...
Manuel São Bento

Manuel São Bento

If you enjoy reading my Spoiler-Free reviews, please follow my blog @ https://www.msbreviews.com As I wrote in countless other reviews of the same genre, I mostly enjoy movies "based on a true story" since these almost always accomplish...