Cairo Conspiracy

Movies

Thoughts

I've been watching Arabic TV shows with my mom. It's been nice, getting to practice more of the language and connecting with my mom with media that we both can enjoy - I can't exactly explain to her what I love about Dragon Quest Monsters or whatever, lol.

I've also been started watching movies with her too! One of these is Cairo Conspiracy. By Egyptian-Swedish director Tarik Saleh, it tells the story of a boy who joins an esteemed Egyptian Islamic School, and finds himself caught in a tense political situation after the Grand Sheik passes away, leaving a vacuum of power in his wake.

Cairo Conspiracy was submitted to Cannes, and is the most successful non-French movie to hit their theaters since Parasite. With that kind of pedigree, I had high hopes for the movie and wasn't disappointed. Conspiracy was extremely good. It is also, to quote my mom, "a movie that could never be made in Egypt, or feature famous Egyptian actors."

She's more correct than she realizes! The movie was filmed almost entirely in Istanbul, and features very few, if any, Egyptian actors. Why is that the case?

Tuuz fil Feds

Cairo Conspiracy is an absolutely blistering critique of the Egyptian government. It pulls absolutely no punches in revealing the level of corruption present there, and amongst the leaders of the Islamic clergy. I'm glad Director Saleh is based in Sweden, or I'd be in fear for his life, lmao.

The movie touches on the Egyptian survillance state, which is one thing. But the insinuation declaration of the Egyptian Government's meddling in positions of Islamic institutions is particularly damning - pun intended. It's just not the kind of thing you're allowed to say, which makes the movie all the more impressive.

What's a Hero

Adam, Cairo Conspiracy's protagonist, is a nice summation of what I'm used to seeing in a lot of Arabic television as well. The media in these countries^[1] very often have strong morals to their stories. The characters who remain good and stay true to their faith are rewarded, and those who are consumed by sin are given their just desserts.

Conspiracy doesn't quite hit that level of near mythical come-uppance, but it does feature a character who has a strong internal sense of religious conviction, which you don't often see in American media. I'd argue that this movie is the best version it, as it's further contrasted against religious corruption.

Great movie, it has English subs too so check it out.