143. Cairo Conspiracy; movie review

 

CAIRO CONSPIRACY

Cert 12A

121 mins

BBFC advice: Contains moderate violence, threat, bloody images, sex references

How many people in the world find themselves reluctant pawns in the power games of others?

In Egypt, there is a push-me-pull-you between religious and political leaders and nobody would want to stand between them.

However, Tarik Saleh's riveting thriller Cairo Conspiracy alights upon a naive fisherman's son (Tawfeek Barhom) who is used by both sides.

The lad, Adam, is initially delighted to be given a place at a university that has the reputation for being the most prestigious seat of learning in Islam.

But it soon becomes clear that there is not only infighting between its sheikhs but also interference from state security.

This manifests itself most clearly when the seat of the all-powerful Grand Imam becomes vacant.

Adam is approached by a government informant and fellow student (Mehdi Dehbi) but almost immediately witnesses his murder.

Thereafter, he is signed up by a ruthless state security colonel (Fares Fares) and, during clandestine coffee shop meetings, is given instructions on how to destabilise the university's hierarchy.

Meanwhile, he is also shown favour by a religious zealot (Sherwan Haji) who leads a band in secret anti-government activity.

The tightrope he is forced to tread provides the film's great tension.

Barhom is made for the role, portraying the student as initially nervous and then emboldened but always needing to look over his shoulder.

Fares, who was impressive as an under-pressure cop in Saleh's The Nile Hilton Incident, catches the eye again as the dishevelled but tough-nut security service colonel.

It all adds up to a credible and nail-biting couple of hours.

Reasons to watch: Deep and well-fashioned thriller

Reasons to avoid: Background knowledge is needed

Laughs: None

Jumps: None

Vomit: None

Nudity: None

Overall rating: 8/10

Did you know? Egypt's National Security Agency is responsible for counter-intelligence, internal and border security, counter-terrorism, and surveillance and has about 100,000 employees and at least as many informants.

The final word.  Tarik Saleh: "It was not possible to shoot Cairo Conspiracy in Egypt. I haven't been able to go back there since 2015 when, three days before we were to start shooting The Nile Hilton Incident, the Egyptian security services ordered us to leave the country. "

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