WithThe Mauritaniannow playing in select theaters, I recently got to speak with directorKevin Macdonald’s about making his powerful new film. Written byM.B. Traven,Rory Haines, andSohrab Noshirvaniand based on the NY Times best-selling memoir “Guantánamo Diary” byMohamedou Ould Slahi, the film tells the inspiring true story of Slahi’s fight for freedom after being detained and imprisoned without charge by the U.S. Government for years. Led by an incredible lead performance byTahar Rahim(who was recently nominated for a Golden Globe), the movie also starsJodie Fosteras Slahi’s defense attorney,Benedict Cumberbatchas the military prosecutor trying to convict Slahi, Shailene Woodleyas Foster’s associate lawyer, andZachary Levias a CIA agent. For more on the filmwatch the trailerorread Matt Goldberg’s review.
During the interview, Macdonald talks about how he landed Jodie Foster for the film since she is very selective about her acting roles, the way they collaborated on the script, what it was like working with Rahim and crafting his prison scenes, his longer cut of the film and why he’d be willing to release it, the challenges of the edit, and a lot more.
Check out what he had to say in the player above and below is exactly what we talked about followed by the official synopsis. If you missed my interviews withJodie FosterandTahar Rahimclick the links.
Kevin Macdonald:
Here’s the official synopsis forThe Mauritanian:
Two-time Oscar winner Jodie Foster stars as Nancy Hollander, a defense attorney who takes on the case of Mohamedou Ould Slahi (Tahar Rahim), a Mauritanian man who stands accused of recruiting the terrorists who flew a plane into the World Trade Center on 9/11. Captured by the U.S. government, Mohamedou languishes in prison for years without charge or trial, nearly losing all hope until he finds allies in Nancy and her associate Teri Duncan (Shailene Woodley). Together they face countless obstacles in the desperate pursuit of justice. Their controversial advocacy, along with evidence uncovered by formidable military prosecutor Lt. Colonel Stuart Couch (Benedict Cumberbatch), eventually reveals a shocking and far-reaching conspiracy.
