Director

Ruben Östlund

Cast list

Fares Fares, Mari Malek , Yasser Ali Maher, Ahmed Selim, Hania Amar, Mohamed Yousry, Slimane Dazi, Hichem Yacoubi, Ger Duany

Credits

Produced by: Kristina Aberg

Written by: Tarik Saleh

Music by: Krister Linder

Atmo Production , Copenhagen Film Fund (co-production)

Synopsis

Weeks before the 2011 Egyptian revolution, Noredin (Fares Fares), a police officer in Cairo’s corrupt system, investigates the murder of a famous club singer at the Nile Hilton Hotel that Egyptian elites are eager to label a suicide. As he begins to half-heartedly investigate, even the most casual of his inquiries seem to be stymied at every turn. Noredin decides to break the rules in order to obtain justice, colliding not only with the system but also with himself. As he digs deeper and discovers the true nature of the murder, he realizes that he is in over his head, and that his own life may be in danger. A political thriller based on a true story.

Reviews

“Writer-director Tarik Saleh’s engaging, textured Cairo crime drama takes place during the build-up to 2011’s Egyptian revolution, drawing parallels between the city’s rising tensions and his noirish antihero’s crumbling personal prospects. Though the film’s powerful police officers and political officials have supposed “legislative immunity”, it turns out that “no one is immune to scandal”. Noredin (Fares Fares) is a craggy, handsome, chainsmoking detective who is called on to investigate the gruesome murder of pop star (and politician’s mistress) Lalena, whose body has been found, throat cut, in the titular Nile Hilton hotel. The only witness to the crime is a Sudanese maid named Salwa (Mari Malek). With his prominent, avian nose and inquisitive eyes, Fares is a compelling screen presence, while Salehh’s attention to details of life in a country on the brink of change give things a sense of grimy perspicuity.”

Hans, Simran. “The Nile Hilton Incident Review – a Cracking Cairo Thriller.” The Observer, Guardian News and Media, 4 Mar. 2018, www.theguardian.com/film/2018/mar/04/the-nile-hilton-incident-review-cracking-cairo-thriller