Mauritanian (The)

  • Désigné coupable (The Mauritanian)
Genre : Biography
Type : Fiction
Original title : Prisoner 7603 (Working Title)
Principal country concerned : Column : Cinema/tv
Year of production : 2021
Format : Feature
Running time : 130 (in minutes)
http://www.stxentertainment.com

Mauritanian citizen Mohamedou Ould Slahi is captured by the US Government in the wake of the 9/11 terrorist attacks. Suspected of having been involved in aiding or even recruiting the hijackers who steered the planes into the World Trade Center, he spends years at the Guantánamo Bay detention camp without being charged or put on trial. Braving contempt and insult, defence attorney Nancy Hollander takes up Slahi's case and prepares to face the prosecutor dispatched by the military. Acting giants Jodie Foster and Benedict Cumberbatch lend their charisma to these representatives of justice who, although on opposite sides, ultimately unite in valuing moral decency. With his uncanny ability to hide his characters' intentions, Tahar Rahim is perfectly cast to portray a man who may as easily be unfairly accused as he may be faking innocence. Slahi had confessed to the crimes of which he was accused. But he did so under torture.
Scottish director Kevin Macdonald addresses a dark chapter in American justice in this defiant political thriller based on the 2015 best-selling memoir "Guantánamo Diary" which Slahi wrote while in captivity. The film's screenwriters have refrained from resolving all the mysteries, thus honouring the importance of examining each case individually - even in the midst of a national outburst of grief and anger.

A film by Kevin MACDONALD

with Jodie Foster, Tahar Rahim, Shailene Woodley, Benedict Cumberbatch

United Kingdom, 2021, drama, 130', Colour, English

Original Title (English): "The Mauritanian"
Title in Quebec: "Le Mauritanien"
French Title: "Désigné coupable"
Working Title: "Prisoner 7603"
Budget: $14 million
Countries of production: USA / UK
Original languages: English / Arabic
Support: color - 2,35:1
Genre: Biografical drama
Duration: 129 minutes
Shooting locations: South Africa, 2019
Année : 2021
Type: Drama
Color : Color

Producers: Adam Ackland, Leah Clarke, Benedict Cumberbatch, Lloyd Levin, Beatriz Levin, Mark Holder, Christine Holder, Branwen Prestwood Smith, Michael Bronner

Executive Producers: Micah Green, Daniel Steinman, Dan Friedkin, Michael Bloom, Maria Zuckerman, Ryan Heller, Zak Kilberg, Russell Smith, Robert Halmi, Jim Reeve, Rose Garnett, Robert Simonds, Adam Fogelson, John Friedberg

Co-Producers: Larry Siems, Donald Sabourin, Mohamedou Ould Slahi

Director: Kevin Macdonald
Screenplay: M.B. Traven, Rory Haines, Sohrab Noshirvani
Cinematography: Alwin H. Küchler
Editing : Justine Wright
Music: Tom Hodge
Sound Design: Glenn Freemantle
Sound: Mike Prestwood Smith
Production Design: Michael Carlin
Costumes: Alexandra Byrne
Make-Up: Kerry Skelton
Assistant Director: Harry Boyd
Casting: Nina Gold
Production Manager: Jada Thwala

CAST
Jodie Foster (Nancy Hollander)
Tahar Rahim (Mohamedou Ould Slahi)
Shailene Woodley (Teri Duncan)
Benedict Cumberbatch (Lt. Col Stuart Couch)
Zachary Levi (Neil Buckland)
Saamer Usmani (Arjun)
Corey Johnson (Bill Seidel)
Langley Kirkwood (Sergeant Sands)
David Fynn (Kent)
Stevel Marc (Poulson)
Meena Rayann (Wafa)
Clayton Boyd (The lawyer)
Robert Hobbs (Captain Collins
Alaa Safi (Moroccan translator)

Produced by
SunnyMarch (London, United Kingdom)
Shadowplay Features (London, United Kingdom)
Wonder Street (Culver City, USA)
Curlyhead Films (New York City, USA)
STXfilms
30West
Topic Studios
BBC Film (Royaume Uni)

World sales
STX International
London, United Kingdom
laustinlittle@stxentertainment.com
www.stxentertainment.com

Distribution companies:
STX Entertainment (USA),
Elevation Pictures (Canada),
Metropolitan FilmExport (France)

Release dates:
USA: 12 February 2021
Québec: 5 March 2021
United Kingdom: 1st April 2021 (Prime Video)
France : 14 July 2021

FESTIVALS / AWARDS

April 15, 2021 /// Casting Society of America's 36th Artios Awards
* Nominee: Outstanding Achievement in Casting - Studio or Independent Feature - Drama (Recipients: Nina Gold, Christa Schamberger (location casting)

April 11, 2021 /// 74th British Academy Film Awards
* Nominee: Best Film (Recipients: Adam Ackland, Leah Clarke, Beatriz Levin and Lloyd Levin)
* Nominee: Outstanding British Film (Recipients: Kevin Macdonald, Adam Ackland, Leah Clarke, Beatriz Levin, Lloyd Levin, Rory Haines, Sohrab Noshirvani and M. B. Traven)
* Nominee: Best Actor in a Leading Role (Recipient: Tahar Rahim)
* Nominee: Best Adapted Screenplay (Recipients: M.B. Traven, Rory Haines and Sohrab Noshirvani)
* Nominee: Best Cinematography (Recipient: Alwin H. Küchler)

March 6, 2021 /// Women Film Critics Circle Awards (The 2020 Women Film Critics Circle - WFCC)
* Nominee: Best Actor (Recipient: Tahar Rahim)
* Nominee (WFCC PAULINE KAEL SPECIAL JURY AWARDS 2020): Best Female Action Hero (Recipient: Jodie Foster

March 4, 2021 /// AARP Movies for Grownups Award
* Won: Best Supporting Actress (Recipient: Jodie Foster)

71st Berlinale 2021 (01-05/03/2021 & 09-20/06/2021)
* Selection: Out of competition (Berlinale Special Gala)
www.berlinale.de/en/programme/202111897.html

2021 /// Heartland Film
Won: Truly Moving Picture Award (Recipient: Kevin Macdonald)

February 28, 2021 /// 78th Golden Globe Awards
* Won: Best Supporting Actress - Motion Picture (Recipient: Jodie Foster)
* Nominee: Best Actor - Motion Picture Drama (Recipient: Tahar Rahim)

February 7, 2021 /// London Film Critics' Circle Awards
* Nominee: Film of the Year (Recipient: "The Mauritanian")
* Nominee: Director of the Year (Recipient: Kevin Macdonald
* Nominee: Actor of the Year (Recipient: Tahar Rahim)


________________


DE


Nach den Terroranschlägen vom 11. September 2001 wird der Mauretanier Mohamedou Ould Slahi von den US-Behörden verhaftet. Er wird verdächtigt, die Terroristen, die die gekaperten Flugzeuge in das World Trade Center steuerten, unterstützt oder gar angeworben zu haben. Jahrelang sitzt er ohne Anklage und Gerichtsverfahren im Gefangenenlager Guantánamo Bay ein. Die Anwältin Nancy Hollander nimmt sich allen Anfeindungen zum Trotz des Falls an und vertieft sich in die Materie, um dem zuständigen Militärstaatsanwalt Paroli zu bieten: Ausnahmedarsteller*innen Jodie Foster und Benedict Cumberbatch spielen diese beiden Figuren als charismatische Vertreter von Recht und Gesetz, die auf verschiedenen Seiten stehen, schließlich aber beide für die Wahrung ethischer Standards kämpfen. Tahar Rahim ist eine Idealbesetzung für den Angeklagten, denn er besitzt die wunderbare Gabe, uns im Unklaren zu lassen: Hat Slahi die ihm zur Last gelegten Verbrechen, die er auch gestanden hat - allerdings unter Folter -, begangen oder ist er tatsächlich ein Unschuldiger?
Der schottische Regisseur Kevin Macdonald behandelt in seinem anspruchsvollen Politthriller ein dunkles Kapitel der Geschichte der US-Justiz, gestützt auf das 2015 erschienene „Guantánamo-Tagebuch", das Slahi in Gefangenschaft schrieb und das zum Bestseller wurde. Das Drehbuch löst nicht alle Rätsel und macht gerade damit deutlich, wie wichtig es ist, jeden Fall genau zu prüfen, selbst wenn eine ganze Nation sich empört.

von Kevin Macdonald

mit Jodie Foster, Tahar Rahim, Shailene Woodley, Benedict Cumberbatch

Vereinigtes Königreich / USA, 2021, Englisch, 130', Farbe

Regie
Kevin Macdonald

Buch
M.B. Traven, Rory Haines, Sohrab Noshirvani

Kamera
Alwin H. Küchler

Ton
Mike Prestwood Smith

Montage
Justine Wright

Musik
Tom Hodge

Sound Design
Glenn Freemantle

Production Design
Michael Carlin

Kostüm
Alexandra Byrne

Maske
Kerry Skelton

Regieassistenz
Harry Boyd

Casting
Nina Gold

Produktionsleitung
Jada Thwala

Produzent*innen
Adam Ackland, Leah Clarke, Benedict Cumberbatch, Lloyd Levin, Beatriz Levin, Mark Holder, Christine Holder, Branwen Prestwood Smith, Michael Bronner

Ausführende Produzent*innen
Micah Green, Daniel Steinman, Dan Friedkin, Michael Bloom, Maria Zuckerman, Ryan Heller, Zak Kilberg, Russell Smith, Robert Halmi, Jim Reeve, Rose Garnett, Robert Simonds, Adam Fogelson, John Friedberg

Co-Produzent*innen
Larry Siems, Donald Sabourin, Mohamedou Ould Slahi

Produktion:
SunnyMarch
London, Vereinigtes Königreich
Shadowplay Features
London, Vereinigtes Königreich
Wonder Street
Culver City, USA
Curlyhead Films
New York City, USA

Weltvertrieb:
STX International
London, Vereinigtes Königreich
laustinlittle@stxentertainment.com
www.stxentertainment.com


Berlinale 2021 (01-05/03/2021 & 09-20/06/2021)
* Sektion: Berlinale Special Gala
www.berlinale.de/de/programme/202111897.html

Partners

  • Arterial network
  • Media, Sports and Entertainment Group (MSE)
  • Gens de la Caraïbe
  • Groupe 30 Afrique
  • Alliance Française VANUATU
  • PACIFIC ARTS ALLIANCE
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  • Zimbabwe : Culture Fund Of Zimbabwe Trust
  • RDC : Groupe TACCEMS
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  • Niger : ONG Culture Art Humanité
  • Collectif 2004 Images
  • Africultures Burkina-Faso
  • Bénincultures / Editions Plurielles
  • Africiné
  • Afrilivres

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