The Mauritanian Movie Storyline.. Based on the NY Times best-selling memoir “Guantánamo Diary” by Mohamedou Ould Slahi, The Mauritanian is the true story of Slahi’s fight for freedom after being detained and imprisoned without charge by the U.S. Government for years.
Alone and afraid, Slahi finds allies in defense attorney Nancy Hollander and her associate Teri Duncan who battle the U.S. government in a fight for justice that tests their commitment to the law and their client at every turn. Their controversial advocacy, along with evidence uncovered by a formidable military prosecutor, Lt. Colonel Stuart Couch, uncovers shocking truths and ultimately proves that the human spirit cannot be locked up.
The Mauritanian is a 2021 legal drama film based on the true story of Mohamedou Ould Slahi, a Mauritanian man who was held for fourteen years (from 2002 to 2016) without charge in the Guantanamo Bay detention camp, a United States military prison. The film is directed by Kevin Macdonald based on a screenplay written by M.B. Traven, Rory Haines, and Sohrab Noshirvani, adapted from Slahi’s 2015 memoir Guantánamo Diary. It stars Tahar Rahim as Slahi, and also features Jodie Foster, Shailene Woodley, Benedict Cumberbatch, and Zachary Levi in supporting roles.
The Mauritanian was released in the United States on February 12, 2021 by STXfilms. In the United Kingdom, where all cinemas were closed due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the planned theatrical release was cancelled and the film premiered on Amazon Prime Video on April 1, 2021.
It received mixed to positive reviews, with critics praising Macdonald’s direction, its cinematography and performances of the cast (particularly of Rahim and Foster) but criticised its screenplay. At the 78th Golden Globe Awards the film received two nominations; Best Actor – Motion Picture Drama (for Rahim), with Foster winning Best Supporting Actress – Motion Picture. At the 74th British Academy Film Awards the film received five nominations, including Best Film, Outstanding British Film, and Best Actor (for Rahim).
As of April 1, 2021, the film has made $835,724 domestically and $2,500,000 internationally, for a global total of $3,335,724. In its opening weekend the film made $163,789 from 245 theaters, and $179,778 over the four-day President’s Day weekend.[ In its second weekend of release the film made $137,072 from 287 theaters. In its third weekend, the film fell a mere 12.3% and made $120,192. In its fourth weekend, the film made $90,004.
The Mauritanian (2021)
Directed by: Kevin Macdonald
Starring: Jodie Foster, Tahar Rahim, Shailene Woodley, Benedict Cumberbatch, Zachary Levi, Saamer Usmani, Corey Johnson, Denis Menochet, David Fynn, El Hocine Aba, Saadna Hamoud
Screenplay by: M.B. Traven, Rory Haines, Sohrab Noshirvani
Production Design by: Michael Carlin
Cinematography by: Alwin H. Küchler
Film Editing by: Justine Wright
Costume Design by: Alexandra Byrne
Set Decoration by: Michele Barfoot
Art Direction by: James Collett, Christophe Dalberg, Marco Guidetti, Moray McGregor
Music by: Tom Hodge
MPAA Rating: R for violence including a sexual assault, and language.
Distributed by: STX Entertainment
Release Date: February 19, 2021 (United States), April 1, 2021 (United Kingdom)
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