Mohamedou Ould Slahi fights for freedom after being detained and imprisoned without charge by the U.S. Government for years.
“The Mauritanian” follows Mohamedou Slahi (Tahar Rahim), who was held in prison at Guantanamo Bay for 14 years without ever being charged for a crime. He was kept in isolation and tortured for the suspicion that he was a recruiter for Al-Qaeda and connected to 9/11. Activist attorney Nancy Hollander (Jodie Foster) takes his case, while the U.S. government tries to gather evidence against him and land him on death row with their own lawyer, Stu Couch (Benedict Cumberbatch).
The highlight and heart of the film is undoubtedly Tahar Rahim’s performance as Mohamedou Ould Slahi. Despite the star power this film has, Rahim brings out Slahi’s warmth and showcases his humanity. I think it’s amazing that he can smile, laugh, and joke after everything he has been through. Rahim brings a certain charm to the role that you cannot help but be enamored by him, even if his innocence is called into question.
Though Hollander is Slahi’s lawyer, she does have a distance from him. The main reason she takes Slahi’s case is that she believes he deserves a decent lawyer. She is very professional, but for an activist lawyer, she lacks conviction, which I think would have added to her character.
The film shines a light on some very dark atrocities and crimes against humanity led by the U.S. Military. It’s easy to forget that America is not the shining beacon of hope and prosperity that we are made out to be since we are so used to being portrayed as the heroes. The film mostly centers on how the U.S. Government is hiding their files on Slahi from both lawyers and how frustrated they are about it.
The legal drama feels pretty predictable and redundant. Cutting away from Rahim to Foster or Cumberbatch was always a bit disappointing. Both actors do what they can with the material they have, but neither character is really fleshed out, and it’s weird to hear Cumberbatch with a Southern accent. Though I appreciate that his character, Couch, is not a typical villainous lawyer, in fact, he is far from it. Supporting actors Zachary Levi and Shailene Woodley on the other hand are a different story and play very one-dimensional characters.
Overall, “The Mauritanian” made a big impact on me, despite the predictability of the story. Tahar Rahim’s performance is what hooks you into this film and he delivers a performance that will stay with you. The film underscores the importance of truth and accountability. We cannot let crimes committed by our government go unaccounted for. These stories need to be revealed and shared, especially since it is so easy for us to forget nowadays.
Now available on Digital HD, Video-On-Demand, and on Blu-ray™ and DVD May 11th
