Three friends, one corrupt kingpin, and a conscience that arrives fashionably late.
Naji, Makram, and Ezzat are three friends who know Saber Abdel Sadiq. The wealthy businessman admires Naji's intelligence and hires him. Naji agrees despite his knowledge that Saber runs suspicious businesses, while journalist Makram launches a press campaign attacking Saber and accusing him of a major corruption case, in which the driver (Ezzat) testifies against him, so Saber kills him. Naji's conscience awakens and he tries to help Ezzat's sister Hind uncover the killer.
Acting
Farid Shawqy's terrifying charm as the untouchable elite.
Direction
Adel Sadeq's claustrophobic framing of 1980s Cairo corruption.
Writing
The slow erosion of Naji's moral armor, scene by scene.
Director
Adel Sadeq
Trivia, insights & behind the scenes
Released during Egypt's Infitah era, the film channels real anxieties about new money, crony capitalism, and the moral compromises of 'opening up' to the West.
Farid Shawqy reportedly based Saber's mannerisms on actual businessmen he'd encountered, making his performance uncomfortably documentary-like for contemporary audiences.
EG
