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The Mauritanian 2021
A 2021 legal drama film, The Mauritanian follows the story of Mohamedou Ould Slahi, a Mauritanian national held without charge from 2002 to 2016 at the Guantanamo Bay detention camp, a United States military prison. The film was directed by Kevin Macdonald and features a screenplay written by M.B. Traven, Rory Haines, and Sohrab Noshirvani, adapted from Slahi’s 2015 memoir Guantánamo Diary. Tahar Rahim portrays Slahi in the main role, with Jodie Foster, Shailene Woodley, Benedict Cumberbatch, and Zachary Levi appearing in supporting roles.
Released in the United States on 12 February 2021 by STXfilms, the film faced a different launch in the United Kingdom due to the COVID-19 pandemic, where all cinemas were closed. The scheduled theatrical release was cancelled, and it instead premiered on Amazon Prime Video on 1 April 2021. Critics gave the film mixed to positive reviews, appreciating Macdonald’s direction, cinematography, and performances—especially those of Rahim and Foster—while finding fault with its screenplay.
At the 78th Golden Globe Awards, The Mauritanian received two nominations: Best Actor – Motion Picture Drama (for Rahim), and Best Supporting Actress – Motion Picture (for Foster). It also garnered five nominations at the 74th British Academy Film Awards, including Best Film, Outstanding British Film, and Best Actor (for Rahim).
Cast
- Jodie FosterNancy Hollander
- Tahar RahimMohamedou Ould Slahi
- Shailene WoodleyTeri Duncan
- Benedict CumberbatchLieutenant Colonel Stuart Couch
- Zachary LeviNeil Buckland
- Saamer UsmaniArjun
- Corey JohnsonBill Seidel
- Denis MénochetEmmanuel
- David FynnKent
- Walter van DykDistrict Court of Columbia Judge
- Aly DeydeWedding Guest
- Baya BelalMohamedou's Mother
- Baba MineDeddahi
- Yanje AbellahiPoliceman
- Pope JerrodJoe
- Daniel JanksJohn
- Ralph LasonDavid
Crew
- Director
- Kevin Macdonald
- Screenplay
- M.B. Traven, Rory Haines and Sohrab Noshirvani
- Story
- M.B. Traven
- Producer
- Adam Ackland, Michael Bronner, Benedict Cumberbatch, Leah Clarke, Christine Holder, Mark Holder, Beatriz Levin, Lloyd Levin, Branwen Prestwood-Smith
- Cinematography
- Alwin H. Küchler
- Editing
- Justine Wright
- Music
- Tom Hodge
Details
- Production
- Shadowplay Features, SunnyMarch, Wonder Street
- Distributor
- STX Television
- Box office
- $7.5 million
