The Mauritanian

The Mauritanian
Theatrical release poster
Directed byKevin Macdonald
Screenplay by
Story byM.B. Traven
Based onGuantanamo Diary
by Mohamedou Ould Slahi
Produced by
Starring
CinematographyAlwin H. Küchler
Edited byJustine Wright
Music byTom Hodge
Production
companies
Distributed bySTXfilms
Release dates
  • 12 February 2021 (2021-02-12) (United States)
  • 1 April 2021 (2021-04-01) (United Kingdom)
Running time
129 minutes
Countries
  • United Kingdom
  • United States
Languages
  • English
  • French
  • Arabic
Box office$7.5 million

The Mauritanian is a 2021 legal drama film based on the memoir of Mohamedou Ould Slahi, a Mauritanian man who was held from 2002 to 2016 without charge in the Guantanamo Bay detention camp, a United States military prison. The film was directed by Kevin Macdonald based on a screenplay written by M.B. Traven, Rory Haines, and Sohrab Noshirvani, adapted from Slahi's 2015 memoir Guantánamo Diary. It starred Tahar Rahim as Slahi, and also featured Jodie Foster, Shailene Woodley, Benedict Cumberbatch, and Zachary Levi in supporting roles.

The Mauritanian was released in the United States on 12 February 2021 by STXfilms. In the United Kingdom, where all cinemas were closed due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the planned cinema release was cancelled and the film was premiered on Amazon Prime Video on 1 April 2021. It received mixed to positive reviews, with critics praising Macdonald's direction, its cinematography and the performances of the cast (particularly of Rahim and Foster) but criticising its screenplay. At the 78th Golden Globe Awards the film received two nominations; Best Actor – Motion Picture Drama (for Rahim), with Foster winning Best Supporting Actress – Motion Picture. At the 74th British Academy Film Awards the film received five nominations, including Best Film, Outstanding British Film, and Best Actor (for Rahim).