When Egypt’s biggest movie star gets an offer to star in a state-funded biopic about the current president, he has no choice but to accept. His decision is made even more firm when shadowy agents threaten the life of his adult son. Writer/director Tarik Saleh’s fascinating film examines the pitfalls of life in an autocracy, even as it draws disturbing parallels to our own current government. And yet, it’s not heavy-handed doom and gloom, as Saleh slips in wryly funny moments throughout the film, revealing the everyday absurdity of life even within a perilous scenario.
Buy Eagles of the RepublicFares Fares (Rogue One) stars as veteran actor George Fahmy, coasting on the height of his success as he glides from one hit movie to another. He’s shacked up with a perky young starlet, but not averse to other dalliances that come his way. One of those side pieces turns out to be the wife of a high-ranking general, putting him in even more danger during the production of his propaganda film. Fares strikes a commanding presence, nailing the role of seasoned star and playboy, even as he channels his character’s inherent goodness via his deep concern about the well-being of his son, a friend in peril, and the general’s wife. George is stuck in an impossible situation, but attempting to make the best of it while keeping his career and interpersonal connections intact.
Despite its Egyptian setting, the film is a Swedish, French, and Danish co-production and was primarily filmed in Istanbul, Turkey. That’s entirely due to Egypt’s very real current authoritarian regime which has kept Saleh out of the country for the past decade, but it’s filmed with such authenticity that viewers without any background knowledge will likely never suspect it’s not a fully Egyptian production. It brings to mind A Hologram for the King as our hapless protagonist attempts to navigate the byzantine politics of an all-powerful regime, as well as The Queen of Spain’s focus on Spanish stars filming a blockbuster under Franco’s dictatorial gaze. Sadly, it also rings true far too often in comparison to our current political climate, a stark reminder of the fragility of our once-unshakable democracy.
The Blu-ray formats the two-hour film in its original 2.39:1 aspect ratio, providing suitably epic sweep for its superb cinematography and production design. As a new film, technical details are all excellent, with sound available in DTS 5.1 surround and 2.0 stereo. While no bonus featurettes are provided, the disc includes the theatrical trailer.
