USA vs. Al-Arian
USA vs AL-ARIAN is 2007 documentary film about Sami Al-Arian and his family during and after his federal trial on terrorism-related charges. It was directed by the Norwegian director Line Halvorsen.
USA vs. Al-Arian | |
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Directed by | Line Halvorsen |
Written by | Line Halvorsen |
Produced by | Jan Dalchow |
Starring | Sami Al-Arian Nahla Al-Arian Abdullah Al-Arian Laila Al-Arian Leena Al-Arian Ali Al-Arian Lama Al-Arian Linda Moreno Paul I. Perez David Cole |
Cinematography | Tone Andersen |
Edited by | Trond Winterkjaer Line Halvorsen |
Music by | Stein Berge Svendsen |
Release date |
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Running time | 102 minutes |
Country | Norway |
Languages | English Arabic |
According to the St. Petersburg Times, the film "glosses over the specific charges, and pays scant attention to the evidence."[1] However Variety notes that, "Though unquestionably biased, eye-opening docu "USA vs Al-Arian" throws the spotlight on a justice system shanghaied by the Patriot Act, leaving a deeply sympathetic family frayed but not quite broken."[2]
In the trial, the jury acquitted Al-Arian of nearly half the charges, and deadlocked on the remaining charges. After the trial, Al-Arian pleaded guilty in 2006 to conspiracy to help a terrorist organization, the Palestinian Islamic Jihad.
Awards
- Audience Award, 2007 Tromsø International Film Festival[3]
- Best Film, 2007 New Orleans Human Rights Film Festival, USA[3]
- Grand Prix (Flugeprisen), 2007 Norwegian Documentary Film Festival Volda[3]
- Honorary Mention, 2007 International Festival of Muslim Cinema "Golden Minbar", Russia[3]
- Best Nordic Documentary, 2007 Nordisk Panorama – 5 Cities Film Festival[3]
References
- Hillsborough: Film focuses on human side of the Al-Arian saga
- Weissberg, Jay. (19 February 2007). "USA vs Al-Arian.(Movie review)". Variety: 51. Retrieved 26 March 2007.
- Norwegian Film Institute. "USA vs. Al-Arian". Retrieved 25 April 2008.
External links
- Official website
- USA vs. Al-Arian at IMDb
- USA vs. Al-Arian at AllMovie
- USA vs. Al-Arian
- Norwegian Film Institute's English-language description of the film.