NEW YORK (March 22) - Independent movie distributor Roadside Attractions has bought North American rights to "The Road to Guantanamo," a docudrama about three British citizens who traveled to a wedding in Pakistan and ended up held as suspected terrorists by the United States for two years.



Sean Gallup, Getty Images
Actors Riz Ahmed, Arfan Usman, director Michael Winterbotton and former inmates of Guantanamo Bay Prison Camp Ruhel Ahmed and Shafiq Rasul attend the 'Guantanamo' photocall.




The film, which mixes interviews with the prisoners and re-creations of their experience by actors, won the Silver Bear at this year's Berlin International Film Festival. It was directed by Michael Winterbottom and Mat Whitcross. Roadside will release the film in early summer.

"We think this film is a visceral punch to the gut that will leave everyone thinking about Guantanamo in a new way," co-president Howard Cohen said.

"It highlights the most absurd aspects of Guantanamo Bay prison and the war on terror, asking humanitarian questions in that context," said Roadside co-president Eric d'Arbeloff.

He noted that the trio was detained by British immigration officials upon returning from the Berlin premiere. "It plays out like a thriller or a horror movie, depending on your perspective."


03/21/06 18:52 ET


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