![Mohamedou Ould Slahi, a Guantanamo Bay prisoner who wrote a best-selling book about his experiences in the military prison. AFP](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/K2GDETDAPA35IRYATTYZQD7IXE.jpg?smart=true&auth=ac2a3804dbfbf7b7013be7256fd22b9c6f072177202faad537b35874786e6558&width=400&height=225)
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![Benedict Cumberbatch as Stuart Couch in The Mauritanian.](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/RGSHRYQQGTVZIE4PFS2MQKELEE.jpg?smart=true&auth=0b98224a4db7f4f039d431ec6ef315357b0050d9366bb158b8940e2c3bac2222&width=400&height=225)
![Tahar Rahim as Mohamedou Ould Salahi in 'The Mauritanian'.](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/OEFE3MVPO546AQY3WL6JTJUQQI.jpg?smart=true&auth=25afb936fb177ffb566f2b696942c9a9bb38632076a812fee5715f039e1108de&width=400&height=225)
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![Mohamedou Ould Slahi, a Guantanamo Bay prisoner who wrote a best-selling book about his experiences in the military prison. AFP](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/K2GDETDAPA35IRYATTYZQD7IXE.jpg?smart=true&auth=ac2a3804dbfbf7b7013be7256fd22b9c6f072177202faad537b35874786e6558&width=400&height=225)
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How 'The Mauritanian' harrowingly captures one man’s wrongful imprisonment in Guantanamo Bay on the big screen
French-Algerian actor Tahar Rahim reveals the lengths he went to when portraying the real-life story of Mohamedou Ould Slahi
James Mottram
February 25, 2021
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