Archive of films Rabiye Kurnaz vs. George W. Bush / Rabiye Kurnaz vs. George W. Bush
After her son is sent to the American prison on Guantanamo, Turkish-German Rabiye Kurnaz launches a quixotic struggle against an opaque judicial system, bureaucracy, and international politics, helped by her attorney Bernhard Docke. A sensitive comedy about human indomitability, belief in justice, and undying hope.
Synopsis
Rabiye Kurnaz's son Murat is falsely accused of terrorism and, as one of the first, is sent to the American prison on Guantanamo shortly after the events of September 11, 2001. In an endeavour to secure his release, the Turkish-German mother of three begins a quixotic struggle against an opaque judicial system, bureaucracy, and international politics. She finds help from the attorney Bernhard Docke, who eventually becomes more than the determined Rabiye’s legal counsel; he becomes her close friend. Based on true events, this sensitive comedy about human indomitability, belief in justice, and undying hope won Berlin's Silver Bear for Best Screenplay and Best Leading Performance.
Natalia Kozáková
About the director

Andreas Dresen. Selected filmography: Night Shapes (Nachtgestalten, 1999), Grill Point (Halbe Treppe, 2002), Willenbrock (2005), Summer in Berlin (Sommer vorm Balkon, 2005), Stopped on Track (Halt auf freier Strecke, 2011), Rabiye Kurnaz vs. George W. Bush (2022).
Contacts
The Match Factory
Domstrasse 60, 50668, Cologne
Germany
Tel: +49 221 539 7090
E-mail: [email protected]
www: www.the-match-factory.com
About the film
Color, DCP
Section: | Horizons |
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Director: | Andreas Dresen |
Screenplay: | Laila Stieler |
Dir. of Photography: | Andreas Höfer |
Music: | Johannes Repka, Cenk Erdoğan |
Sound: | Oswald Schwander |
Editor: | Jörg Hauschild |
Art Director: | Susanne Hopf |
Producer: | Claudia Steffen, Christoph Friedel |
Production: | Pandora Film Produktion |
Coproduction: | Iskremas Filmproduktion, Cinéma Defacto, Norddeutscher Rundfunk, Rundfunk Berlin-Brandenburg, Bayerischer Rundfunk, Radio Bremen, NDR/ Arte, Arte France Cinéma |
Cast: | Meltem Kaptan, Alexander Scheer |
Sales: | The Match Factory |