The Oath is the story of two brothers-in-law, both of whom were close to the core of Al-Qaeda and notably, Osama bin Laden.
Abu Jandal was invited to Afghanistan by Bin Laden after his move from Sudan and would later become his bodyguard. Abu’s brother-in-law Salim Hamdan joined him and was given the job of Bin Laden’s personal driver.
Despite their similar beginnings the two men ended up in very different situations. Abu left before 9/11 and went on to build a life for himself in the Yemen capital Sana’a as a taxi driver. Salim’s fate has been dramatically worse. Arrested shortly after 9/11 and sent to Guantanamo Bay, he faces war crimes charges and is the first man to face the controversial military tribunals.
Filmed in Yemen and Guantanamo the story retraces the journeys of the two men. Salim’s experience of seven years of imprisonment is told through the narration of his letters home and Abu’s through startlingly open, long interviews, which chronicle the series of events that led to their situations.
The Oath screens Thursday, March 3, 2011, 8 PM, at the TIFF Bell Lightbox, Cinema 3.
To purchase tickets, visit the TIFF Online Box Office or phone 416-599-TIFF (8433) or 1-888-599-8433. Tickets can also be purchased, in person, at TIFF Bell Lightbox Box Office, Reitman Square, 350 King Street West, Toronto.
The Oath is co-presented with The Toronto Palestine Film Festival.
