THE MAURITANIAN follows the remarkable true story of Mohamedou Ould Slahi (Tahar Rahim) who was captured by the U.S. government and imprisoned for years without trial at Guantanamo Bay (GTMO). It is an inspiring account of survival against all odds as Slahi, in his fight for freedom, finds allies in defence attorney Nancy Hollander (Jodie Foster) and her associate Teri Duncan (Shailene Woodley). Through Nancy and Teri’s controversial advocacy and evidence uncovered by formidable military prosecutor Lieutenant Colonel Stuart Couch (Benedict Cumberbatch), a shocking and far-reaching conspiracy is revealed. THE MAURITANIAN is a commentary on the importance of the Rule of Law and extremism of all kinds, but is also a tender, funny, uplifting film about Mohamedou, an extraordinary man whose humanity triumphed, leaving those around him profoundly changed.
The motion picture THE MAURITANIAN, based on Mohamedou Ould Slahi’s inspiring New York Times best-selling memoir, ‘Guantánamo Diary’, is helmed by Kevin Macdonald, the Academy Award® winning director of One Day in September (Best Documentary, Features), Whitney, How I Live Now and The Last King of Scotland which garnered multiple awards including a Best Actor Academy Award® for Forrest Whittaker.
The cast is led by Tahar Rahim (The Looming Tower, A Prophet/Un Prophète) as Mohamedou Ould Slahi; Academy Award® winner Jodie Foster (The Silence of the Lambs, Contact, Taxi Driver) in the role of Slahi’s defense lawyer Nancy Hollander; Independent Spirits Award winner Shailene Woodley (Divergent, The Descendants, The Fault in Our Stars) in the role of Attorney Teri Duncan; BAFTA®, Golden Globe® and Academy Award® ‘Best Actor’ nominee, Benedict Cumberbatch (The Imitation Game, Doctor Strange, Star Trek Into Darkness) in the role of Marine Corps Lawyer, Lieutenant Colonel Stuart Couch; and Zachary Levi (Shazam!, The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel) in the role of Federal Agent, Neil Buckland.
