Five Years

The film opens by recalling a 19-year-old Murat Kurnaz enjoying a new sense of freedom: finishing school, holding a driving license, experiencing first love, and living on his own. It frames these moments as the high point of life, soon to be ripped away.

Murat is arrested and handed over to the US detention system, ending his ordinary life. He is brought to Guantanamo Bay, where there is no explanation, no evidence, and no trial.

From the start, he is subjected to interrogations, mistreatment, humiliation, and torture as authorities press him for answers. The movie shows that these actions aim to coerce a confession rather than uncover truth.

The interrogations target an alleged collaboration with Taliban fighters in Afghanistan, with no credible evidence presented. He remains under pressure to confess to crimes he did not commit.

Throughout his detention, Murat is never charged with a crime, never given a trial, and never afforded a proper opportunity to defend himself. The system withholds legal due process while keeping him imprisoned.

The film states that he endures 1727 days in prison, a staggering period that forms the backbone of the ordeal. This figure underscores the scale of deprivation and the contrast with the rule of law.

Among the 1727 days, one year stands out as total isolation, a mental and physical strain that isolates him from any human contact. The isolation mirrors the dehumanizing effect of the system.

The film portrays how the Guantanamo setup seems to spin away from the principles it claims to defend, undermining the rule of law. It frames Murat's experience as illustrative of broader systemic failures.

In a public hearing in Washington, D.C., lawyer Sabin Willett challenges the detention regime, recounting Murat's case and calling attention to the rights of detainees. The moment anchors the film in the broader political debate over Guantanamo.

Left with nothing else to rely on, Murat endures the waiting and the taunts of a system that withholds justice. The narrative follows his inner resilience as a defining counterpoint to the external oppression.

The story presents Murat as a hero whose journey reveals how the system can turn against the rule of law. It uses his experience to illustrate a macro-level critique of justice and human rights abuses.

The film closes by drawing the connection between Murat's five-year ordeal and a warning about collective neglect of justice. It invites the audience to reflect on accountability and reform.