Cairo Conspiracy

 

Exciting new paranoid thriller CAIRO CONSPIRACY out today from Picturehouse Entertainment

Set in and around the illustrious Egyptian Islamic institution Al-Azhar University in Cairo, which is the center of Sunni Islam. Small town fisherman's son, Adam, arrives to begin his studying at the school; shortly after his arrival the highest ranking religious leader, the Grand Imam, suddenly dies and Adam becomes a pawn in the power struggle between the religious leaders and political elites as they seek to elect a new high leader.

Boasting an impressive lead performance by Tawfeek Barhom as the erstwhile Adam, and featuring Fares Fares as the state security agent, Ibrahim, who is the key player in this game of chess bearing a resemblance to Mandy Patinkin's Saul from 'Homeland', the intense nature of the political game being played by both sides makes for a gripping conclusion.

Shot in Turkey as the director Tarik Saleh, has been banished from Egypt since the release of 2017's The Nile Hilton Incident (which starred Fares also) - the backdrop provides a luminous base for rich production design from Roger Rosenberg and crisp cinematography by Pierre Aim creating a world that is bright and clear but underneath darkness lurks.

Cairo Conspiracy is out now from Picturehouse Entertainment

Trailer Talk - Cairo Conspiracy

 

A winner at the Cannes Film Festival for Best Screenplay in 2022, the hotly anticipated conspiracy thriller CAIRO CONSPIRACY is finally gaining a UK release on 14th April 2023 from Picturehouse Entertainment

The trailer above puts in a succinct nutshell the basis of a plot to insert a new Grand Iman amongst the Sunni Islam. Adam (Tawfeek Barhom) is the son of a fisherman, who is posited in a position to infiltrate certain cliques in the religious seat of learning and a game of cat and mouse between he and Colonel Ibrahim (Fares Fares - The Nile Hilton Incident) ensues.

A thriller based upon the power struggle between Egypt's religious and political elites. As one onlooker observes, power is a double edged sword and you may cut yourself upon it.

Directed by Tarik Saleh, who came to global prominence with The Nile Hilton Incident, he also recently directed the Amazon Prime release The Contractor starring Chris Pine and Ben Foster, which was a decent thriller of its own standing. He has also directed episodes of Westworld and Ray Donovan.

Saleh reunites with Fares who has garnered acclaim for his work on both sides of the Atlantic. This promises to be one of the best thrillers of this year and may well make end-of-year lists due to the bold and gripping nature of it.

CAIRO CONSPIRACY is out on limited release from Picturehouse Entertainment on 14th April

My thanks to Em Foundation for the opportunity to (p)review