"Walad min al-Janna" or "Boy from Heaven" is a pretty new movie, even if it premiered already in 2022, but took a while for the film to have a wide release in many countries and now it has made its way here to Germany where it went by the name "Cairo Conspiracy", well the German words for it obviously. It is a collaboration between all kinds of Northern European countries plus France and in the latter it also scored its biggest awards achievement with the screenplay win at Cannes, the Palme d'Or nomination at the same event and also the César nomination in the foreign language feature category. The writer and director is Tarik Saleh, who turned 50 last year and is another filmmaker who had early successes with music videos. I am sure that many will still remember the Lykke Li song, even if he already directed for the small screen before that. A bit of a late bloomer unless his body of work on imdb is not complete. It could be because Saleh originates from Sweden and the site is probably not complete with regards to Swedish small screen projects especially, but yeah Saleh has worked on "Ray Donovan" and "Westworld" in the meantime, so the transition to America has also been a huge success, even if with this film here, he is again back a bit to his roots you can surely say. And of course there is "The Nile Hilton Incident", a film that was as controversial before the shooting already and resulted in the filmmaker not being allowed into Egypt and this is still the case, so he had to shoot this new film we have here also elsewhere, even if it takes place in Egypt. This was in Turkey by the way, but their President who can always be found in western media did not object apparently. Of course, this is not reported on a lot, only what fits the mainstream agenda. But that is another story.
In any case, Saleh already worked with Fares Fares on the film I just mentioned and here they are united again. I intended to talk about the cast later on, but if we are at it already, I can surely say that Fares Fares gives my favorite performance from the movie. No big surprise I guess with how baity the character is written here and there and the actor just has a lot to work with, but also does a decent job there without a doubt. Nicely done. I only read it was him later on, actually during the closing credits for the first time, but I did not know. Tawfeek Barhom is the one who is the even bigger lead and really in this film from beginning to end and he was alright too. I guess he did not win me over completely, but he also did not hurt the film by any means and surely it also had a lot to do with his character as he is still a bit on the innocent, naïve side for most of the film or his character is I should say and this is why the young man does not have moments in which he really makes an impact. He is more of an observer and somebody who follows the rules for the majority of the film. Towards the end, he gets a bit more active. With the rest of the cast, I can really not say too much about them, but judging from the names they all originate from the area (or neighboring countries) where the film is set. I hope they will not have to deal with any kind of discrimination in terms of their future work and projects because they appeared in this film here. In any case, what we have here is a pretty long film as it does find its way past the two-hour mark, but it did not drag too much I would say. Not every scene or twist was a winner, but overall it was surely good enough and I think I am glad I went to see this one, even if I was not too sure if I should and also if I would not say that the film blew me away or something. It was just solid all along, sometimes more than that and sometimes less.
The murder scene at the beginning was of course a vital (no pun intended) moment story-wise, but I am not sure if I liked it too much. It was so rushed, so abrupt, but it made kinda sense because the ones who did it had to get out as fast as they could obviously and also the protagonist watching this scene was eager to get away quickly himself because he would become a target, so it is all good I assume. What was definitely one of my favorite scenes is the one that results in one character who had ambitions to become the new spiritual leader of the university this film is all about bury said ambitions. It was a bit of a panel discussion or press conference there and seeing the guy who is targeted there from a political perspective by the protagonist and another influential leader was pretty haunting. This is also the last time we see this man. How he looked at the two others, the one in the audience and the one sitting close to him was among the most memorable shots of the film I would say. Another scene I liked because of how tense it was is the one where the boy (I guess we can still call him that) was forced to make the call to a relative and they wanted to see if he speaks the truth there or lied to them. I also liked the way how it went, how it did not work out that the guy at the other end of the phone line understands and lies to protect the character, but go watch this scene (and film) yourself. You will surely know what I am talking about then and this scene was one of the biggest reasons to watch the movie. There you could also not be sure that the one who lead the group had his very own background and ambitions that are not what you would expect. I guess Fares Fares' character had his spies everywhere. I said I dug him and I still mean it, but sometimes it was also not perfect writing with his character like the scene when he realizes there is more to the boy when they are having their first talk. But this slightly unrealistic twist was then made up for by the scene(s) when they eat and talk at the restaurant. These were more entertaining again.
I mentioned this crucial question-from-the-audience moment already of course and I think that the film did go a bit south then. The adult main character trying to protect the boy was still alright and also how his superior still manages to find him afterwards, but the change of story then towards the idea that the boy was killed seemed a bit too much, just like the twist where Fares Fares' character became a target then too, had his office searched, had to fear for his life maybe and let's not even get started about how this blind religious leader becomes a target too there towards the end, but some kind of diplomatic stroke of genius can keep all this from happening and pretty much everybody stays alive Good for them. It is also revealed who killed the other young man at the beginning of the film. Oh well, it makes sense and shows us that there is no pure good or evil here, but still, I could have done without the elaboration there, but maybe they wanted the crowd not to leave the theater with too many questions on their mind. It's alright. At least they did not mess the ending up completely by killing everybody. Or most central characters. The high-profile politician they dragged into it then too, who says he'd rather not have known about all this was also completely forgettable. As for the blind fella I just mentioned a few lines earlier, maybe his change of mind came a bit too sudden as well, but I found it interesting how we see him earlier in the movie, fairly early in fact, and realize he is not one of the most fundamental teachers there. But the entire scenario of several teachers holding speeches there in the school yard with the students sitting in groups and listening and thus almost making it a competition between the teachers was quite memorable too. Unimaginable in my area of the world, but then again here a lot is messed up too if every teacher is preaching the wrong agenda. Another story again.
What I can still say about the film is that really a lot happens here at the start with the death of the previous leader whose ailing health is depicted on one occasion or with the death of the first informant of course. A great deal of escalation there for sure. Comedy is something you will not find too often here and if there is something that will make you smile, I am not entirely sure if it was intended to do so. Just take the example of the guy who goes almost crazy in the end and says then everybody must die. This was a real megalomaniac moment that made some laugh or also the irony at the very beginning when there is talk about how the university should not be led by somebody for his entire lifetime. Except it is the president of the country of course. This is almost a direct quote. That two pharaohs are not a good thing. But the general idea is so absurd that maybe the biggest university of the country, at least it is a crucial one in the capital of Egypt is dominated and led by religious fundamentalists. Tough to find any statement linked to tolerance there, but certain people will always find some of course. They banned realism and objectivity a long time from their lives and just suck in everything they are told by the media. And once again a different story, but not totally off-topic given the film's premise and the backgrounds of all the characters. This is it then. I think it was an alright film with occasionally fairly good moments and this is why I recommend the watch. Also pay attention to how women are not a factor in this film (or rather society) here at all, except at home dealing with food and children. What do you say to that, apologists and gender equality supporters? Still, to end the review on a positive note, you can say that you will surely learn a few interesting aspects about life in Egypt here, also for example about these contests about who is the best at praising Allah. Those I was not familiar with before either. That is all. Oh no wait, one more thing: Even if it sounds a bit like mockery, these red-and-white religious hats surely reminded me of Santa and I was definitely not the only one. Enough now, really.
In any case, Saleh already worked with Fares Fares on the film I just mentioned and here they are united again. I intended to talk about the cast later on, but if we are at it already, I can surely say that Fares Fares gives my favorite performance from the movie. No big surprise I guess with how baity the character is written here and there and the actor just has a lot to work with, but also does a decent job there without a doubt. Nicely done. I only read it was him later on, actually during the closing credits for the first time, but I did not know. Tawfeek Barhom is the one who is the even bigger lead and really in this film from beginning to end and he was alright too. I guess he did not win me over completely, but he also did not hurt the film by any means and surely it also had a lot to do with his character as he is still a bit on the innocent, naïve side for most of the film or his character is I should say and this is why the young man does not have moments in which he really makes an impact. He is more of an observer and somebody who follows the rules for the majority of the film. Towards the end, he gets a bit more active. With the rest of the cast, I can really not say too much about them, but judging from the names they all originate from the area (or neighboring countries) where the film is set. I hope they will not have to deal with any kind of discrimination in terms of their future work and projects because they appeared in this film here. In any case, what we have here is a pretty long film as it does find its way past the two-hour mark, but it did not drag too much I would say. Not every scene or twist was a winner, but overall it was surely good enough and I think I am glad I went to see this one, even if I was not too sure if I should and also if I would not say that the film blew me away or something. It was just solid all along, sometimes more than that and sometimes less.
The murder scene at the beginning was of course a vital (no pun intended) moment story-wise, but I am not sure if I liked it too much. It was so rushed, so abrupt, but it made kinda sense because the ones who did it had to get out as fast as they could obviously and also the protagonist watching this scene was eager to get away quickly himself because he would become a target, so it is all good I assume. What was definitely one of my favorite scenes is the one that results in one character who had ambitions to become the new spiritual leader of the university this film is all about bury said ambitions. It was a bit of a panel discussion or press conference there and seeing the guy who is targeted there from a political perspective by the protagonist and another influential leader was pretty haunting. This is also the last time we see this man. How he looked at the two others, the one in the audience and the one sitting close to him was among the most memorable shots of the film I would say. Another scene I liked because of how tense it was is the one where the boy (I guess we can still call him that) was forced to make the call to a relative and they wanted to see if he speaks the truth there or lied to them. I also liked the way how it went, how it did not work out that the guy at the other end of the phone line understands and lies to protect the character, but go watch this scene (and film) yourself. You will surely know what I am talking about then and this scene was one of the biggest reasons to watch the movie. There you could also not be sure that the one who lead the group had his very own background and ambitions that are not what you would expect. I guess Fares Fares' character had his spies everywhere. I said I dug him and I still mean it, but sometimes it was also not perfect writing with his character like the scene when he realizes there is more to the boy when they are having their first talk. But this slightly unrealistic twist was then made up for by the scene(s) when they eat and talk at the restaurant. These were more entertaining again.
I mentioned this crucial question-from-the-audience moment already of course and I think that the film did go a bit south then. The adult main character trying to protect the boy was still alright and also how his superior still manages to find him afterwards, but the change of story then towards the idea that the boy was killed seemed a bit too much, just like the twist where Fares Fares' character became a target then too, had his office searched, had to fear for his life maybe and let's not even get started about how this blind religious leader becomes a target too there towards the end, but some kind of diplomatic stroke of genius can keep all this from happening and pretty much everybody stays alive Good for them. It is also revealed who killed the other young man at the beginning of the film. Oh well, it makes sense and shows us that there is no pure good or evil here, but still, I could have done without the elaboration there, but maybe they wanted the crowd not to leave the theater with too many questions on their mind. It's alright. At least they did not mess the ending up completely by killing everybody. Or most central characters. The high-profile politician they dragged into it then too, who says he'd rather not have known about all this was also completely forgettable. As for the blind fella I just mentioned a few lines earlier, maybe his change of mind came a bit too sudden as well, but I found it interesting how we see him earlier in the movie, fairly early in fact, and realize he is not one of the most fundamental teachers there. But the entire scenario of several teachers holding speeches there in the school yard with the students sitting in groups and listening and thus almost making it a competition between the teachers was quite memorable too. Unimaginable in my area of the world, but then again here a lot is messed up too if every teacher is preaching the wrong agenda. Another story again.
What I can still say about the film is that really a lot happens here at the start with the death of the previous leader whose ailing health is depicted on one occasion or with the death of the first informant of course. A great deal of escalation there for sure. Comedy is something you will not find too often here and if there is something that will make you smile, I am not entirely sure if it was intended to do so. Just take the example of the guy who goes almost crazy in the end and says then everybody must die. This was a real megalomaniac moment that made some laugh or also the irony at the very beginning when there is talk about how the university should not be led by somebody for his entire lifetime. Except it is the president of the country of course. This is almost a direct quote. That two pharaohs are not a good thing. But the general idea is so absurd that maybe the biggest university of the country, at least it is a crucial one in the capital of Egypt is dominated and led by religious fundamentalists. Tough to find any statement linked to tolerance there, but certain people will always find some of course. They banned realism and objectivity a long time from their lives and just suck in everything they are told by the media. And once again a different story, but not totally off-topic given the film's premise and the backgrounds of all the characters. This is it then. I think it was an alright film with occasionally fairly good moments and this is why I recommend the watch. Also pay attention to how women are not a factor in this film (or rather society) here at all, except at home dealing with food and children. What do you say to that, apologists and gender equality supporters? Still, to end the review on a positive note, you can say that you will surely learn a few interesting aspects about life in Egypt here, also for example about these contests about who is the best at praising Allah. Those I was not familiar with before either. That is all. Oh no wait, one more thing: Even if it sounds a bit like mockery, these red-and-white religious hats surely reminded me of Santa and I was definitely not the only one. Enough now, really.