The Mauritanian (2021) – 8/10 – True story of chilling human rights violations
Overall
The Mauritanian is a legal drama thriller that is based on a true story. Guantanamo Bay remains a dark spot in American history, where the US military violated the Geneva Conventions. It was a place of torture, death, secrets, lies, abuses, and crime (Google “Enhanced interrogation techniques” for graphic details). Philosopher Nietzsche has a quote: “Whoever fights monsters should see to it that in the process he does not become a monster.” Enhanced interrogation techniques developed by the CIA have become that. Torture is sometimes necessary to extract information, but it’s often ineffective. If you break someone enough, they’ll admit anything and everything, even if untrue. Before the US Supreme Court decision to extend habeas corpus (the right to challenge imprisonment in court) to Guantanamo Bay, the Bush administration denied detainees both legal representation and habeas corpus. While there were terrorists and dangerous criminals imprisoned, there were also innocents. This film concerns one individual held for fourteen years without being charged with a crime. He won his case in 2010, but the Obama administration didn’t release him until October 2016—over six more years of unjust delays. My rating is 8/10.
Plot
The CIA accused Mohamedou Ould Slahi from Mauritania of involvement in a terrorism plot in 2000, and the FBI interrogated him. With no proof, they released him. Then 9/11 happened, and the CIA once again detained everyone previously accused. The US government imprisoned him at Guantanamo Bay. They never charged him with a crime and interrogated him using brutal torture tactics. The movie depicts snapshots of torture, but Slahi said it was much harsher than depicted, going on for significantly longer periods. In 2004, the US Supreme Court’s ruling in Rasul v. Bush entitled foreign nationals held in Guantanamo Bay to habeas corpus. In 2005, lawyer Nancy Hollander (Jodie Foster) takes Mohamedou’s (Tahar Rahim) case pro bono. Her associate, Teri Duncan (Shailene Woodley), joins her as they work the case. The government assigns Marine Prosecutor Stuart Couch (Benedict Cumberbatch) to litigate.
Technicals
The acting, direction, script, cinematography, production, and evocative background music were outstanding. Jodie Foster and Tahar Rahim stole the show in the lead roles. Shailene Woodley and Benedict Cumberbatch gave excellent supporting performances. You never feel a dull moment, but it has flaws. The pacing could have been quicker with tighter editing. It dragged somewhat in the middle sections. I’m unsure how significant a role the courts played, as we saw little evidence of it here. I learned more about Mohamedou’s past later. THE MAURITANIAN should have detailed that more, rather than me Googling it. The title should be something else since people won’t know what it’s about. I don’t think they chose the right director for this film, even though Kevin Macdonald did a good job.
Would I recommend this?
Yes, I believe it’s important for everyone to understand what went on at Guantanamo Bay. This movie doesn’t vilify the CIA or the Army but paints a less-than-cordial picture. The movie is not one-sided and offers arguments without concluding guilt or innocence. Canadian intel, Mauritanian intel, the FBI, the CIA, and the Army interrogated him countless times, but none could prove his guilt. In the early 90s, he had joined the Mujahideen to fight the Soviets in Afghanistan. The CIA armed the mujahideen, including Al-Qaeda, in the 1980s to combat the Soviets. Years later, those same groups opposed the US, but Mohamedou was no longer among them. You must decide, but the matter concerns more than guilt or innocence. It’s whether such inhumane treatment is justified, even if it doesn’t work. The terrorists used Guantanamo Bay facts in their recruitment efforts, so it probably resulted in more terrorists. The 2000s were rough, with lasting consequences and repercussions post-9/11 under a corrupt Bush administration. We can consider events such as the Iraq War (based on WMD lies), expanding the Afghanistan War, the Great Recession (due in part to disastrous policies), and the Patriot Act (massive power grab). There was no accountability and justice. The terrorists got the response they wanted, including two wars that cost America trillions and hundreds of thousands of deaths, which were used to recruit more terrorists.
*Obtained trivia facts from IMDb’s trivia page and plot/basic history/names information from Wiki
