CAIRO CONSPIRACY

One of the pleasures of a foreign film is getting a glimpse of a different culture, and that is certainly the case with this unusual and excellent political thriller.

Apparently in Egypt the Grand Imam is as important a political figure as the President, so when the incumbent dies at the start of the film the government’s national security force, in the form of Colonel Ibrahim, is keen to influence, by fair means or foul (mainly the latter), the subsequent election so that the government’s preferred candidate wins. 

Thrown into this murky world of intrigue where no one can be trusted is the other main character, Adam, a naïve student who leaves his native fishing village to start his religious studies at the prestigious Al-Azhar University in Cairo.  He is soon a helpless pawn in the power struggle between the government and various religious factions. That the stakes are high is made clear early on by the murder of a student, which adds to the tension.

Although the film starts slowly the viewer is soon caught up in the intrigue, as Adam begins to realise he is not entirely helpless and that he can take matters into his own hands.

What elevates the film into something special is that just at the point when it seems as though all has been resolved, things take a decidedly dark and unexpected turn. 

This culminates in a climax which had me on the edge of my seat, involving appropriately enough a theological discussion, albeit one with life-and-death consequences. 

The audacity of this blew me away.  No wonder Tarik Saleh, who also directed this little gem, received an award for the screenplay at Cannes.

RATING: ✓✓ Catch It If You Can