Omicidio al Cairo

The synopis, the title n the lead actor Fares were enuff for me to check this film. It is good to see Fares in a leading role after the the Department Q trilogy. In this film Fares is a clean shaven cop, who's obsessed with his side part hair cut, he doesnt hesitate to steal money from a dead person's purse but at the same time he takes care of his old n sick dad. While investigating a murder of a famous singer, he has to face some powerful people n police corruption. This film has all the ingredients of a noir film. The film is set during the Egyptian revolution, starting with the protest against increasing police brutality n corruption.

About the story line .. it's such important to say this movie describes the egyptian political society so close that i - for a while - thought that Noredin Mostafa is a real character ..

There is a fact that the idea of the main story line is real .. Suzanne Tamim was a charming but not widely known lebanese singer who was found dead in her appartment in Dubai in 2008 .. the investigators in Dubai have known the identity of the killer (Mohsen El Sokkary) who was an ex-cop in state security section (a section known for it's brutal ways in protecting the whole regime and always against the people of Egypt) .. later he confessed the murder after incitement by Hisham Talaat Mostafa who was a close member in the circle around Gamal Mobarak ..both Hisham and Mohsen faced trial in Egyptian court and put in prison for 15 yrs ..

The movie describes the Egyptian society and police corruption very well .. may be the fact is much horrifying .. this was one of the main causes of the glorious egyptian revolution in 2011 ..

The only critic to the film is the sound directory is so weak .. sometimes i found it so hard to hear the dialog ..

This movie does a very good job of showing a realistic view of modern day Egypt.

Corruption permeates everywhere. It is a way of life, especially among government employees under the regime of Hosni Mubarak.

Police Commander Noredin is corrupt and at a low point in his life: he works, collects bribes, browses facebook at an internet cafe, heads home and watches tv while drinking a beer and smoking a joint. He then goes to sleep for the cycle to repeat. Noredin's wife and child had been killed in an auto-crash and is it heavily alluded to that he got his job thanks to police General Kammal, his uncle. He helps his disabled father but has lost his respect, due to his corruption.

A murder then occurs at the Nile Hilton hotel. Noredin is unable to decide whether to commit to the case or just collect the appropriate bribes and close it. He eventually decides to pursue the case at all costs.

This film touches on many aspects of Egyptian society. From the Sudanese immigrants to the working class, middle class, artisans and elite - we get a perspective of what daily life in Cairo is like.

Being unfamiliar with Egypt, the dialogue was very amusing and fresh. Some of the idioms and digs had me laughing out loud.

I must also give a lot of credit to many of the actors that made this film particularly engaging. Fares Fares plays Noredin very well as we can sense his perspectives and viewpoints clearly. Oddly enough, he reminded me of Harrison Ford in Blade Runner: cold, detached but intrigued nonetheless. Another nod should go to Mari Malek, who plays Salma - the Sudanese murder witness. She really shows the helplessness and vulnerability of an immigrant in her situation.

I highly recommend this film, especially to anyone who like murder-mysteries, film noir or historical dramas as it has shades of all those genres in it.

Egyptian film star Fares Fares is the beleaguered police detective trying to solve the murder of a prostitute at the Nile Hilton, but encounters nothing but roadblocks and misdirection, some laid by his own superiors. In Egypt, they apparently frown on attempts to solve crimes committed by top government figures. And to get information or to get out of trouble, everything has a price. Money is always changing hands. The viewer wonders if the detective will ever get the chance to find the killer.

Sounds like an interesting murder mystery, but truth be told, it's not as exciting or mysterious as it could be. Director Tarik Saleh tries mightily but his efforts come up short. "The Nile Hilton Incident" is heavy on atmosphere but lacks clarity to hold the audience's interest. Corruption, graft and bribery abound and the bleak, washed out color photography is in keeping with the squalid streets of the Egyptian cities and the moral underpinnings of local officials. The 'perp' is known early on but his identity gets lost the muddled mix of names and titles of all the government employees involved. And, without giving it away, noir fans are used to a more satisfying resolution of matters than Director Saleh has afforded us.

The Nile Hilton Incident is a political thriller following a murder at the Nile Hilton Hotel in Cairo during the Egyptian Revolution in January 2011.

The movie pulls off both the political elements as well as the more cinematic mysteriousness without being too much of either.

The acting is first class, especially Fares Fares, who probably smoked enough cigarettes to keep Marlboro in business forever. His character is not only interesting, well written and dynamic, but most of the struggle is internal. It's a very restrained act and he does it perfectly. Fares Fares is a legitimately good physical performer, not just here but in general.

The lack of musical score is an interesting choice. It's only used during big character moments and adds a sense of importance to those scenes.

The Nile Hilton Incident is veritable, competently shot and professionally acted.