Rabiye Kurnaz vs. George W. Bush

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Rabiye Kurnaz vs. George W. Bush

2022

1h 59m

Drama

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Popcornmeter

50%

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6 Reviews

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Fewer than 50 Ratings

Murat is incarcerated in the U.S.' Guantanamo detention camp. Desperate to help her son, Rabiye Kurnaz, a housewife and loving mother from Bremen, goes to the police, notifies authorities and almost despairs at their impotence, until she discovers Bernhard Docke. The reserved, level-headed human rights lawyer and the temperamental Turkish mother -- now fighting side-by-side for Murat's release. Docke is patient, Rabiye is not. She'd actually prefer to be back home with her family but finds herself totally enmeshed in world politics. She goes with Bernhard to Washington, and right up to the Supreme Court to bring legal action against George W. Bush. Bernhard watches out for her. And Rabiye makes him laugh. With heart and soul. And in the end, against all the odds, something truly remarkable happens.

Jessica Kiang

Variety

A frustratingly baby-steps contribution to a social justice conversation that is too important, and too intricate, to be boiled down to a mother’s-love-conquers-all bromide.

Feb 20, 2022

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Anna Smith

Deadline Hollywood Daily

There are a few odd editing decisions, but the astonishing real-life twists keep up the momentum. And it’s hard not to be moved by this portrait of a woman who would stop at nothing to rescue her son.

Feb 15, 2022

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Jonathan Romney

Screen International

A sluggish, dramatically and visually inert piece that not long ago – before the dividing lines between cinema and TV were irreversibly blurred – would have been considered very much a TV-style offering.

Feb 13, 2022

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Alex Billington

FirstShowing.net

That's the beauty of Rabiye and this battle against the forces that be. The film sometimes feels like a Larry David comedy but so many of the scenes are entirely accurate, as a cautionary tale of political debauchery and governmental carelessness.

Rated: 7.5/10

Dec 30, 2022

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Ricardo Gallegos

La Estatuilla

Effective direction, light tone, and two outstanding performances allow the film to inform and entertain without falling into irresponsible territory. [Full Review in Spanish]

Aug 18, 2022

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Anthony C

The actor playing a reporter Anthony Cook was amazing!!!

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

04/24/24

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Andreas Dresen

Director

Meltem Kaptan

Rabiye Kurnaz

Alexander Scheer

Bernhard Docke

Charly Hübner

Marc Stocker

Nazmi Kirik

Mehmet

Sevda Polat

Nuriye

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Synopsis

Murat is incarcerated in the U.S.' Guantanamo detention camp. Desperate to help her son, Rabiye Kurnaz, a housewife and loving mother from Bremen, goes to the police, notifies authorities and almost despairs at their impotence, until she discovers Bernhard Docke. The reserved, level-headed human rights lawyer and the temperamental Turkish mother -- now fighting side-by-side for Murat's release. Docke is patient, Rabiye is not. She'd actually prefer to be back home with her family but finds herself totally enmeshed in world politics. She goes with Bernhard to Washington, and right up to the Supreme Court to bring legal action against George W. Bush. Bernhard watches out for her. And Rabiye makes him laugh. With heart and soul. And in the end, against all the odds, something truly remarkable happens.

Director: Andreas Dresen
Producer: Claudia Steffen, Christophe Friedel
Screenwriter: Laila Stieler
Genre: Drama
Original Language: German
Runtime: 1h 59m