Cairo Time

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Cairo Time

PG

2010

1h 28m

Drama

Romance

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Tomatometer

Popcornmeter

80%

Tomatometer

80 Reviews

62%

Popcornmeter

2,500+ Ratings

With some time off from her job as a magazine editor, New Yorker Juliette (Patricia Clarkson) decides to share a holiday with her husband, who works for the United Nations. Upon arriving in Cairo, however, she finds he's stuck in Gaza, and he sends his former bodyguard, Tareq (Alexander Siddig) -- now relocated back in Cairo to work at his family business -- to act as her guide around the city. Soon Juliette finds herself captivated by both the city and her companion.

Critics Consensus

Though potentially too slowly paced for some, Cairo Time lingers long after the closing credits, largely due to a wonderful performance by Patricia Clarkson.

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Peter Rainer

Christian Science Monitor

01/03/2011

B

The lovely twilit moments in this movie stay with one, and that summoning them up in your mind is like slowing down time.

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Moira MacDonald

Seattle Times

09/02/2010

3/4

Clarkson lights up Ruba Nadda's stately drama Cairo Time like the moon on a summer night, making every moment luminous with quiet, resigned longing.

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Calvin Wilson

St. Louis Post-Dispatch

08/27/2010

2.5/4

What it has going for it, however, is a strong performance from Clarkson, who has become one of the more reliable character actors in independent film.

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Brian Eggert

Deep Focus Review

08/09/2023

2.5/4

Comparing Cairo to two would-be lovers that roam about in the splendor and complication of the city itself was a lovely idea from Ruba Nadda. It’s a perception that’s both romantic and perhaps a little naïve.

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Rene Jordan

El Nuevo Herald (Miami)

07/14/2022

Cairo Time is an Egyptian pastime in which absolutely nothing happens. [Full review in Spanish]

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David Lamble

Bay Area Reporter

06/12/2020

You may never see Cairo the same way again after it plays itself in Ruba Nadda's low-key thwarted romance.

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Meri S.

@mschroeder Mar 25

DNF. What a flat and slow moving movie. Maybe it got better. But seemed like it was going nowhere. Acting was meh.

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Steve A

@RT92021794 01/17/2024

Watched this movie a few times over the years and always love it !

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Abby A

@RT03637265 10/11/2023

Beautiful stunning movie! Gentle and relaxing to watch.

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Sophia D

@RT29414370 03/13/2022

A truly heartbreaking love story. It is like the toned-down version of Lala land. It is beautiful to watch two people fall in love so naturally, especially since they are both older. Not often do you get to see a love story focused around an older couple. The actors were beautifully natural and it made me feel like I was watching people in my living room instead of people in Cairo. I wish more people had access to this film because it is just so beautiful and heartbreaking. Cannot stress enough how much I recommend this movie.

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01/09/2022

Dreary film with annoying musical background score.

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Emilio T

@MilloTPue 01/14/2020

Cairo for tourists. Full of topics and characters who do not listen each other, but it is watchable if you want some exotism.

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Ruba Nadda

Director

Patricia Clarkson

Juliette Grant

Alexander Siddig

Tareq Khalifa

Elena Anaya

Kathryn

Tom McCamus

Mark

Amina Annabi

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Synopsis

With some time off from her job as a magazine editor, New Yorker Juliette (Patricia Clarkson) decides to share a holiday with her husband, who works for the United Nations. Upon arriving in Cairo, however, she finds he's stuck in Gaza, and he sends his former bodyguard, Tareq (Alexander Siddig) -- now relocated back in Cairo to work at his family business -- to act as her guide around the city. Soon Juliette finds herself captivated by both the city and her companion.

Director: Ruba Nadda
Producer: David Collins, Daniel Iron
Screenwriter: Ruba Nadda
Distributor: IFC Films
Production Co: Foundry Films
Rating: PG (Smoking|Mild Thematic Elements)
Genre: Drama, Romance
Original Language: English
Release Date (Theaters): Aug 6, 2010, Limited
Release Date (Streaming): Sep 27, 2016
Box Office (Gross USA): $1.6M
Runtime: 1h 28m