Cairo Conspiracy

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Film Buff Excellent film. Mastercraft filmmaking and a top notch cast. Captivated my interest from beginning to end. Run, don't walk to see Cairo Conspiracy. Rated 5/5 Stars •  Rated 5 out of 5 stars 01/28/23 Full Review Kevan K Incredible movie, even though it's set in Egypt in the context of the most esteemed Islamic university in the world, the themes are globally relevant. It gives an experience of the potential corruption of religious groups by government & ulterior interests in order to influence the population. It gives an insight in to the motivations from multiple sides of the struggle for power & holds a mirror up to the human condiiton. There's also themes of ethical choices, family, sacrifice, exploitation, hope & human nature. Great acting, suspenseful & visually intimate. Is religion the illegal arm of the government? Can you structure a centralised institution in a way that it won't be corrupted? What are the aims of the government, the religous organisation & the individual? A bold, daring, thought provoking philosophical film. Rated 5/5 Stars •  Rated 5 out of 5 stars 05/17/23 Full Review Peter A Great thriller but for us in suburbia gave a little more insight and understanding of life in one part of the Middle East Rated 5/5 Stars •  Rated 5 out of 5 stars 05/13/23 Full Review Steve P Most of the film, set predominantly in Istanbul's Süleymanye mosque, artfully substitutes for Cairo. Saleh weaves a complex narrative, drawing inspiration from his personal experience with censorship after The Nile Hilton Incident (2017). Cairo Conspiracy offers a profound glimpse into contemporary Egypt, encompassing its vibrant cultural traditions and turbulent political climate. It captivated audiences at its premiere in Cannes in 2022, garnering exceptional acclaim and securing Sweden's official Best International Feature Film submission. Addressing themes of faith, betrayal, and power struggles within Egyptian society through the eyes of an innocent protagonist, this film provides substantial material for those seeking thought-provoking content. Cairo Conspiracy delivers a captivating storyline complemented by outstanding performances, catering to viewers' interests in Egypt's current affairs or broader issues across the Middle East. While not without imperfections, its ability to tackle significant themes renders it a valuable contribution to the realm of cinema. Rated 3.5/5 Stars •  Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars 05/09/23 Full Review Brent M When the elderly Grand Imam of Cairo's prestigious Al-Azhar University passes away suddenly, a scramble ensues over the appointment of his replacement, one that involves the maneuverings of various vested interests from religious fundamentalists to political pragmatists to devoutly spiritual purists. But who will ultimately take over? That depends on the efforts of a young new student who becomes caught up in this power struggle, the pious son of a fisherman who's unwittingly recruited as a state security informant to infiltrate a group of academic ideological extremists. This slowburn thriller (sometimes a little too slow for its own good, especially in the middle) draws on this scenario to examine the diverse dynamics of Egyptian politics and religion, especially the often-tenuous relationship between the two, as played out through the internal (though publicly high-profile) workings of this long-established, well-respected educational institution. Writer-director Tarek Saleh's latest is a finely acted, capably made production (a noteworthy accomplishment given that the controversial filmmaker's work had to be shot outside of Egypt), though it occasionally lacks the gripping tension needed to give the picture's narrative the kind of dramatic heft that an offering like this requires, especially considering the high stakes involved in this story. While this Cannes Film Festival award winner for best screenplay is a work of fiction and said to poignantly reflect the prevailing conditions found in these institutions, the script, pacing and overall tone could have stood to be less subtle and more pointedly compelling. Indeed, "Cairo Conspiracy" is a suitably attention-holding watch with a solid underlying premise, but it would have been better if it had been a little less conventional and wielded a more pronounced edge. Rated 3.5/5 Stars •  Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars 05/05/23 Full Review Mohamed G Many questions .. a superficial text, somewhat bearing the stereotyped image of the West about the Middle East, Al-Azhar is not the Vatican to derive ideas from previous films from, the entire work is marred by some Western views of the Middle East, it did not make me feel as if I was in Egypt, the characters were cold in most cases as if they were robots, and certainly there's the intention of showing the Islamists as if they are saboteurs who want to wreak havoc on the earth. I'm very frustrated as my aspirations were so high, but unfortunately! Rated 2.5/5 Stars •  Rated 2.5 out of 5 stars 02/17/25 Full Review Read all reviews

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