The Mauritanian
Mauritanian national Mohamedou Ould Salahi spent 14 years as a prisoner of the United States — much of that time at Guantanamo Bay, Cuba. His ordeal and the efforts of U.S. lawyers to free him is the focus of “The Mauritanian.” Despite the subject matter, this is a film that offers a hopeful portrait of a man who relies on his Islamic faith to find the strength to persevere but also to forgive. The script and director aren’t shy about showing elements of Salahi’s faith, and he is often filmed in prayer or with his Quran.
A handful of scenes were filmed in Mauritania and have a certain ethnographic quality, especially since the country is rarely featured in Hollywood films. Though the legal drama elements of the story are well-acted and compelling at times, they do seem focused on scoring political points. This can distract from Ould Salahi’s personal triumph of one man and his faith.
Ould Salahi is played by Tahar Rahim, who received a Golden Globe nomination for his role in the film. The young French-Algerian star who is himself a practicing Muslim has long vowed never to play a terrorist on screen. Rahim’s nomination was part of a historic year for Muslim actors at the Golden Globes, with three Muslims receiving Golden Globe nominations. Jodie Foster, who plays the lead role of the attorney defending Salahi, won a Golden Globe for her strong performance. The film also received five nominations at the British Academy Film Awards. ( Joseph Hammond)
