USA vs. Al-Arian
Encyclopedia
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." 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."
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.
2007 in film
This is a list of major films released in 2007.-Top grossing films:Please note that following the tradition of the English-language film industry, these are the top grossing films that were first released in the USA in 2007...
documentary film
Documentary film
Documentary films constitute a broad category of nonfictional motion pictures intended to document some aspect of reality, primarily for the purposes of instruction or maintaining a historical record...
about Sami Al-Arian
Sami Al-Arian
Dr. Sami Amin Al-Arian , is a former resident of Temple Terrace, Florida, now living in Northern Virginia, who is a Muslim activist, and former University of South Florida professor of computer engineering...
and his family during and after his federal trial on terrorism-related charges. It was directed by the Norwegian director Line Halvorsen
Line Halvorsen
Line Halvorsen is a Norwegian film maker. She was educated at the University of Trondheim and in the documentary film department at Volda University College....
.
According to the St. Petersburg Times
St. Petersburg Times
The St. Petersburg Times is a United States newspaper. It is one of two major publications serving the Tampa Bay Area, the other being The Tampa Tribune, which the Times tops in both circulation and readership. Based in St...
, the film "glosses over the specific charges, and pays scant attention to the evidence." However Variety
Variety (magazine)
Variety is an American weekly entertainment-trade magazine founded in New York City, New York, in 1905 by Sime Silverman. With the rise of the importance of the motion-picture industry, Daily Variety, a daily edition based in Los Angeles, California, was founded by Silverman in 1933. In 1998, the...
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."
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 FestivalTromsø International Film FestivalThe Tromsø International Film Festival is an annual film festival held in Tromsø, Norway.The inaugural Tromsø International Film Festival was held in 1991, and today TIFF is the largest film festival in Norway as considered by attendance figures; in 2010 there were 58 267 admissions. In 2006 TIFF...
- Best Film, 2007 New Orleans Human Rights Film FestivalNew Orleans Human Rights Film FestivalThe New Orleans Human Rights Film Festival is an annual film festival held in New Orleans, Louisiana.The first New Orleans Human Rights Film Festival was held in 2003 and the festival bills itself as "Founded by New Orleans artists and activists" and "dedicated to nurturing our city's human rights...
, USA - Grand Prix (Flugeprisen), 2007 Norwegian Documentary Film Festival Volda
- Honorary Mention, 2007 International Festival of Muslim Cinema "Golden Minbar", Russia
- Best Nordic Documentary, 2007 Nordisk Panorama – 5 Cities Film Festival
External links
- USA vs. Al-Arian
- Norwegian Film Institute's English-language description of the film.