The Cairo Conspiracy: a thriller that is only half convincing [critique]

The big strings of his screenplay – although awarded at Cannes – prevent the new film from the director of Cairo Confidential from fully unfolding, despite the power of its staging.

Channel 7 is closing tonight its cycle “Arte makes its cinema”by offering a special evening The Cairo Conspiracysince this thriller Tarik Saleh released in 2022 in cinemas will be followed by a documentary on its production.

Once broadcast, the nine films in the selection will be visible for free in replay, until approximately December 20. Here is our review of The Cairo Conspiracywhose staging is breathtaking, but which nevertheless did not convince as much First than his previous film, Cairo Confidential.

Al-Azhar University in Cairo epicenter of Sunni Islam's power “, is at the same time, a mythical place, a fortress and a strategic place of Egyptian power. The Swedish filmmaker of Egyptian origin, Tarik Saleh, caused a sensation with Cairo Confidential (2017), a sticky thriller set during the Mubarak era which did not please the authorities, forcing it to relocate its filming to Morocco. With this Cairo conspiracyawarded a Screenplay Prize at the last Cannes Film Festival, Saleh has not even attempted to set foot in a country where he is now judged “undesirable”.

It was therefore in Türkiye that he retreated. The hero of this new feature film is Adam, the son of a fisherman who has the unexpected opportunity to join Al-Azhar. It is through his novice eyes that we enter this Holy of Holies. The university was then in full turmoil after the death of the Great Iman, equivalent of the Pope for the Catholic religion. The appointment of his successor goes beyond the walls and members of state security will use Adam to infiltrate the institution from the inside.

Tarik Saleh, by his own admission, envisioned this spy thriller as a classic prison film. Great idea that he only half converted, the fault of a screenplay (the Cannes Prize remains a mystery) using too many strings and certain figures imposed to spice up a story which nevertheless did not need it. What remains is a highly effective immersive staging and this feverish impression of permanent danger.

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