Some movies, like this one, are much harder to watch than others. The Mauritanian is not a commercial film, despite its trio of stars; it is a deeply serious story which questions American attitudes following the 9/11 attacks. It’s my guess that seeing it would rile the hell out of truly conservative viewers (who would probably never choose to watch it in the first place) because of its polarizing stance for human rights for all, even those accused of terrorism. It is a harrowing story, designed to make viewers question whether they really believe in Constitutionally guaranteed rights for all.
Kevin Macdonald’s film centers on a Mauritanian man, Mahomedou Ould Slahi (Tahar Rahim), suspected of terrorism and taken into custody a couple of months after 9/11/2001. In 2005 he is a captive at Guantanamo Bay prison, and no one has heard from him in years. Legal technicalities lead to the ACLU to meet with him, and lawyers Nancy Hollander (Jodie Foster) and Teri Duncan (Shailene Woodley) agree to represent him. Years later, Slahi’s case finally moves toward a resolution, even though he has yet to be charged with any crime.
Three stories concurrently take place: Slahi’s captivity, with flashbacks to his past, and the torture he eventually endures; the defense lawyers, who have to fight and beg just to get views of the evidence against him; and the prosecution lawyer, Stuart Couch (Benedict Cumberbatch), who somehow faces the same legal struggle to gather the evidence, and then is gobsmacked when he finally learns the truth. If this story were not true in its details and length of time, it would be difficult to believe. As it is, viewers with open minds and good consciences will be stunned to learn what this man — and many others — endured, because we thought he might be an important al-Qaeda operative.
The movie is rather foggy on whether Slahi actually did anything for which he was suspected, which is probably fair but not very satisfying. It would be nice to know, since we spend so much time getting to know the person. The lawyers struggle with this, too. The most compelling aspect is that of Couch, the enthusiastic prosecutor who comes to see that any evidence against Slahi is tainted and inadmissible in court. When he is convinced, it forces viewers to realize how certain lines should not be crossed, and just how eagerly our own military justice system crossed them in the name of patriotism. ☆ ☆ ☆. 16 February 2021.