« Désigné Coupable » de Kevin Mc Donald avec Tahar Rahim, Jodie Foster , Shailene Woodley …

"The Mauritanian" original title has been rejected many times in terms of its release on the screens but this could create an inordinate expectation and especially "disappointment" to the vision of the feature film by Kevin Mc Donalds. This is not the case . The film is excellent. The subject is however not easy and not very "bankable" at the Box Office. Here is the pitch as it is presented on the allo-ciné site: Captured by the American government, Mohamedou Ould Slahi has been detained for years in Guantánamo, without trial or charge. At the end of his strength, he discovers two unexpected allies: lawyer Nancy Hollander and his collaborator Teri Duncan. two women will confront the relentless system in the name of fair justice. Their controversial plea, along with the evidence uncovered by the formidable military prosecutor, Lt. Col. Stuart Couch, will eventually unmask a conspiracy as vast as it is scandalous. incredible true story of a fierce fight for survival and human rights. " Kevin Mc Donalds is based on a solid script written with three hands by Rory Haines, Sohrab Noshirvani & M.B. Traven and adapted from the book written by Mohamedou Ould Slahi, the "hero in spite of himself" of the film. The director of "The Last King of Scotland" which won Forrest Whitaker an Oscar comes from the documentary and therefore is attached to the accuracy of the narrative. Moreover, he could not help but use the square format (very docu at the formal level during the interviews with Mohamedou). Its realization is neat, academic, some would say but effective. Here the genres intermingle to the delight of the spectators, the trial film, the thriller, the true story, the political brulot, the human drama ... We are caught by this story of a Mauritanian, having had indirect relations with Bin Ladden & having been part of Al Qeida in Afghanistan. Indeed the "suspect" is very suspect but in the aftermath of September 11, an indelible American tragedy, the administration, with exacerbated patriotic motivation, must find the culprits. Guantanamo's lawless zone will serve as a laboratory, a torture chamber to extract official confessions in the face of terrorist profiles largely compatible with the United States' quest for justice and revenge. It is therefore the course of the Mauritanian, of the human, Mohamedou Ould Slahi that we follow. It was necessary to aim right, level of casting, to succeed in mastering this story of a man crushed by a failing system in terms of respect for rights and especially in search of culprits, its course, its history but also it was necessary to involved actors capable of passing this dose of humanism that underlies the film. Tahar Rahim is really very good in his interpretation, emaciated, tendentious at times, poignant and pugnacious, he seized the role "in English" with disconcerting brilliance! He received a well-deserved Golden Globe nomination. His range of actors has widened. His charisma has grown and he is exceptional in this role. Jodie Foster received the Oscar for Best Supporting actress for this role of lawyer "go to war" attached to human rights, loudmouth and determined. The actress said she met defense lawyer Nancy Hollander. She softened her character slightly, also hinting at a dose of compassion and humanity, which reinforces her interpretation. She is precise and convincing, her degree of commitment is palpable. Jodie Foster remains a great actress and she proves it again here. Shailene Woodley as associate of the defense lawyer also brings a fragility to her role beyond her always advantageous physique. Benedicte Cunberbatch, with the cavernous voice, also plays with efficiency, the public prosecutor in charge of the case, solid & formidable then confronted with the veracity of the file. The interpretation and the direction are the 2 strong points of the film. The treatment of the story avoids Manichaeism and the conduct of the investigation is captivating. It is the first real big film of the year 2021 and it is released on the French National Day. Feel free to immerse yourself in this forensic thriller based on a true story. Moreover, the appearance, at the end of the film, of the real Mohamedou Ould Slahi is also edifying.