Cairo Conspiracy

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1:27

Cairo Conspiracy

2023

2h 6m

Drama

Mystery & Thriller

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Tomatometer

Popcornmeter

85%

Tomatometer

47 Reviews

81%

Popcornmeter

50+ Ratings

Adam, the son of a fisherman, is offered the ultimate privilege to study at the Al-Azhar University in Cairo, the epicenter of power of Sunni Islam. Shortly after his arrival in Cairo, the university's highest ranking religious leader, the Grand Imam, suddenly dies and Adam soon becomes a pawn in a ruthless power struggle between Egypt's religious and political elite.

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Critics Consensus

Although it may not fully unlock the promise of its tension-rich setting and premise, Cairo Conspiracy's strong performances and sophisticated script offer solidly satisfying compensation.

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Whelan Barzey

Time Out

Jul 25, 2023

3/5

Refreshingly, the Swedish-born director opts against picking from the low-hanging fruit of indicting Islam and hones in on the fallibility of human nature and our weakness for earthly desires instead.

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David Stratton

The Australian

May 8, 2023

4/5

You could argue that it’s a little unlikely that the security forces should choose such a naive young man as Adam to do their inside work, but once you accept that notion then the film – actually made in Turkey – is a very effective thriller.

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Danny Leigh

Financial Times

Apr 13, 2023

4/5

The film’s biggest coup is the common thread it finds in both worlds: military back rooms and holy offices alike filled with the ambitious jostling for position.

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Samantha Schuster

Cinéfilo Serial

Aug 8, 2025

3.5/5

Bold, intriguing, and with several surprising narrative twists, Cairo Conspiracy turns out to be a more than effective thriller, which seeks to critique political and religious maneuvering. [Full Review in Spanish]

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Farah Cheded

A Good Movie To Watch

Oct 21, 2023

Rife with paranoia and subterfuge, Cairo Conspiracy feels utterly unique thanks to [its] skillful transposing of the shadowy machinations of courtly intrigue dramas and '70s paranoid thrillers into a very contemporary Egyptian setting.

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Damon Wise

Deadline Hollywood Daily

Sep 16, 2023

Saleh’s film works on many more levels than sociopolitical, delivering a sophisticated adult thriller while at the same time exploring the intense psychological dynamic of the relationship between Adam and Ibrahim.

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Film Buff

Jan 28, 2023

Excellent film. Mastercraft filmmaking and a top notch cast. Captivated my interest from beginning to end. Run, don't walk to see Cairo Conspiracy.

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Tom C

@RT77388749 Aug 21, 2025

A story of intrigue and conflict between the religious establishment and the evil deep state in Egypt.

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Steve P

@RT77101224 May 8, 2023

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.

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Mohamed G

@GLorD01 Mar 19, 2023

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!

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Tarik Saleh

Director

Tawfeek Barhom

Adam

Fares Fares

Ibrahim

Mohammad Bakri

General Al Sakran

Makram Khoury

Sheikh Negm

Mehdi Dehbi

Zico

The Correspondent

92%

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Cairo Conspiracy: Trailer 1

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Synopsis

Adam, the son of a fisherman, is offered the ultimate privilege to study at the Al-Azhar University in Cairo, the epicenter of power of Sunni Islam. Shortly after his arrival in Cairo, the university's highest ranking religious leader, the Grand Imam, suddenly dies and Adam soon becomes a pawn in a ruthless power struggle between Egypt's religious and political elite.

Director: Tarik Saleh
Producer: Fredrik Zander, Kristina Aberg
Screenwriter: Tarik Saleh, Tarik Saleh
Distributor: Samuel Goldwyn Films
Production Co: BUFO, Final Cut for Real, Film i Väst, Atmo Production, Memento, Arte France Cinema, SVT
Genre: Drama, Mystery & Thriller
Original Language: Arabic
Release Date (Theaters): Jan 27, 2023, Limited
Runtime: 2h 6m
Sound Mix: Digital 5.1
Aspect Ratio: Scope (2.35:1)

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