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USA vs. Al-Arian

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USA vs. Al-Arian
Directed byLine Halvorsen
Written byLine Halvorsen
Produced byJan Dalchow
StarringSami 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
CinematographyTone Andersen
Edited byTrond Winterkjaer
Line Halvorsen
Music byStein Berge Svendsen
Release date
  • 19 January 2007 (2007-01-19)
Running time
102 minutes
CountryNorway
LanguagesEnglish
Arabic

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.

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

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  • 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

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  1. ^ Hillsborough: Film focuses on human side of the Al-Arian saga
  2. ^ Weissberg, Jay. (19 February 2007). "USA vs Al-Arian.(Movie review)". Variety: 51. Retrieved 26 March 2007.
  3. ^ a b c d e Norwegian Film Institute. "USA vs. Al-Arian". Retrieved 25 April 2008.
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