‘Eagles Of The Republic’ review: Tarik Saleh reunites with Fares Fares to end his Cairo trilogy

Dir/scr: Tarik Saleh. Sweden/France/Denmark. 2025. 128mins

The primary two instalments of Tarik Saleh’s politically-charged ‘Cairo trilogy’ had been despairing examinations of the corruption and paranoia coursing by way of Egyptian society. The author-director sharpens his knife for the ultimate chapter, which casts a harsh mild on a principled actor pressured into making a movie for the regime, discovering how simple it’s to compromise his beliefs. Tauter than its predecessors, and brandishing a pointy sense of humour, Eagles Of The Republic reunites Saleh with Fares Fares, the lead within the earlier footage, to mock movie trade egos whereas delivering a chilling commentary a couple of tyrannical authorities which imposes its will each by way of media propaganda and lethal pressure.

 A darkly amusing have a look at a dysfunctional movie shoot which turns into a terse thriller 

The second movie within the trilogy, 2022’s Boy From Heaven (also referred to as Cairo Conspiracy) additionally premiered in Cannes Competitors, the place it gained the Greatest Screenplay award, earlier than being chosen as Sweden’s official Oscar submission. (The primary chapter, 2017’s The Nile Hilton Incident, gained Sundance’s World Cinema Grand Jury Prize: Dramatic.) This new instalment begins as a darkly amusing have a look at a dysfunctional movie shoot earlier than turning into a terse thriller — a provocative combination of genres that ought to entice patrons.

Fares performs George, an growing old famous person nicknamed ’Pharaoh of the Display’. Although privately essential of present Egyptian president Abdel Fattah Al-Sisi, he’s recruited by the federal government to play the chief in a fawning biopic known as ’The Will Of The Folks’. George desires no a part of this hagiography however, after Al-Sisi’s males threaten George’s college-aged son, he realises he has no alternative. (Viewers is not going to be stunned to study that Saleh was ordered to go away Egypt in 2015 for being essential to the regime, one thing that clearly continues right here.)

The trilogy’s earlier chapters had been extra simple thrillers, so Eagles Of The Republic’s preliminary satirical bent proves to be a welcome change of tempo. George could also be beloved, however Saleh and Fares haven’t any illusions about his failings. It’s clear this self-absorbed actor has been in his share of hacky footage, like a sci-fi/motion blockbuster hilariously titled The First Egyptian In House. Plus, he’s the form of over-the-hill star who has a younger girlfriend, Donna (Lyna Khoudri), whom all people assumes is his daughter. Quoting traces from his personal films when he’s attempting to be heartfelt, and making a run to the shop to purchase viagra to maintain up together with his frisky lover, George is an amusingly useless idiot.

Saleh additionally pokes enjoyable on the regime’s makes an attempt to make ’The Will Of The Folks’, particularly the producers’ need to render Al-Sisi as a good-looking, charismatic determine. (The true president could also be bald, however George is instructed that he should maintain his stunning darkish hair.) However that comical skewering ultimately offers manner as soon as Eagles Of The Republic hints on the insidious nature of this pathetic challenge. This comes by way of most forcefully within the mysterious man overseeing it, Dr. Manssour (Amr Waked), who calmly however menacingly informs George when he’s not portraying Al-Sisi to his satisfaction.

Fares is marvellous as George who, regardless of his objections to ’The Will Of The Folks’, decides to offer the movie his all. It’s an early indication of the character’s deadly flaw, which is his have to be liked – even when which means burnishing Al-Sisi’s picture. George tries to make use of his newfound reputation among the many regime to assist pals who’re in its crosshairs — corresponding to his frequent co-star Rula (Cherien Dabis), who has been blacklisted. However as soon as George will get seduced by his proximity to energy, viewers could have issue figuring out whether or not his cheerful compliance is mostly a ruse.

Fares delivers a reducing portrait of wilful self-deception, giving us an empty vessel with no convictions who stupidly initiates a clandestine affair with Suzanne (Zineb Triki), the alluring spouse of Egypt’s minister of defence.

A lot of the inventive group return from earlier chapters, and Eagles Of The Republic advantages from their skilful work. Pierre Intention’s cinematography and Roger Rosenberg’s manufacturing design spotlight each the phoniness of film units and the lavish, sinister lairs the place Egypt’s callous leaders reside. And composer Alexandre Desplat, a newcomer to this trilogy, gives a subdued rating, properly underlining how George’s expertise echoes that of so many different would-be activists, who lose their backbone as soon as they’re invited right into a world of privilege and perks.