The Mauritanian (2021)

Director: Kevin Macdonald
Stars: Jodie Foster, Tahar Rahim, Shailene Woodley
Runtime: 129 minutes

Synopsis: Mohamedou Ould Salahi fights for freedom after being detained and imprisoned without charge by the U.S. Government for years.

Verdict: I hold a soft spot for well-made legal dramas, especially those that fall under the political umbrella. Like “Official Secrets” a few years ago, they have the power of keeping me on the edge of my seat for their entire runtime. Kevin Macdonald’s “The Mauritanian” tells the true story of Mohamedou Salahi’s long stay at Guantanamo Bay with no charges brought against him. Close to losing all hopes in a fair and just trial, he finds unlikely support from lawyer Nancy Hollander and her associate Terri, respectively played by the excellent Jodie Foster and Shailene Woodley.

It’s an eye-opening tale that offers a sneak peek at the abhorrent treatment reserved for inmates of the Cuban prison. An affirmation that true justice is nothing but a myth, and that governments will do whatever it takes to control the narratives they have written themselves. These truths have been out in the open for a long time now, and the movie isn’t here to double down on that information but rather to tell the story of an individual who had to suffer the consequences of such a broken and inhumane system. That individual is Mohamedou Salahi, accused of engineering the 9/11 attacks and who was brilliantly portrayed by Tahar Rahim (who a lot of you may recognize as being the lead in 2009’s “A Prophet” or Asghar Farhadi’s “The Past”).

When it comes to movies that are made to tell such true stories, I always expect a realistic tone to accompany them as a way to remind the audience of the gravity of what they encompass. And that’s where “The Mauritanian” failed to live up to its promises. By adopting safe filmmaking techniques aimed at enhancing its dramatic side, the seriousness of the subject matter was dialed down quite a bit in favor of unwarranted theatricalities.

Despite that unfortunate misstep, I still found the award-winning film to be a rewarding watch. It’s easily accessible and will satisfy audiences looking for a good story, but I can also see people interested in the technical side of filmmaking being disappointed by its lack of personality.

FINAL GRADE: 6/10