Talk & Discussion

The Mauritanian: A Fight for Justice

18 Feb 2021

 / 7pm to 8pm (GMT)
11am to 12pm (PDT)
 / Free
Event has passed

“It’s a film about humanity and about why are we doing this to other human beings? What possible excuse can there be? And it’s beyond his innocence or his guilt.”

Hear Academy award-winning director Kevin Macdonald in conversation with ACLU senior staff attorney Mohammad Tajsar, as they discuss his new film The Mauritanian.

The film is based on the New York times best-selling memoir Guantanamo Diary and true story of Mohamedou Ould Slahi’s fight for freedom after being imprisoned without charge and tortured by the U.S. Government in Guantanamo Bay, for 14 years.

Kevin Macdonald is an Academy award-winning director widely acclaimed for One Day in September, The Last King of Scotland, Touching the Void, Life in a Day, and many more.

Mohammad Tajsar’s work primarily focuses on national security and counterterrorism policy, with a particular focus on the impacts of national security law on Arab, Muslim, Middle Eastern, and South Asian communities. 

All attendees will have access to an exclusive preview of the film.

About the film:

Directed by Kevin Macdonald and based on the NY Times best-selling memoir “Guantánamo Diary” by Mohamedou Ould Slahi, The Mauritanian reveals the inspiring true story of Slahi’s fight for freedom after being detained and imprisoned without charge by the U.S. Government for years. 

Alone and afraid, Slahi (Tahar Rahim) finds allies in defense attorney Nancy Hollander (Jodie Foster) and her associate Teri Duncan (Shailene Woodley) who battle the U.S. government in a fight for justice that tests their commitment to the law and their client at every turn. 

Their controversial advocacy, along with evidence uncovered by a formidable military prosecutor, Lt. Colonel Stuart Couch (Benedict Cumberbatch), uncovers shocking truths and ultimately proves that the human spirit cannot be locked up.

This event is in partnership with the ACLU of Southern California – the US’ premier defender of the rights and freedoms guaranteed by the Constitution.

This event has now passed. You can watch it back on our youtube channel here, or listen to the talk on our Creative Collisions podcast here.

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