Eagles of the Republic

George Fahmy (played by Fares Fares) is the biggest star in Egyptian cinema. He is known as the “Pharaoh of the Screen.” He catches the attention of Egyptian President Abd al-Fattah al-Sisi himself, who wants the star to play the lead role in a biographical film glorifying the president. It turns out to be an offer he cannot refuse—the authorities use blackmail to force the actor to accept it.

At first, as befits a star, the protagonist hopes to have a significant say in both his role and the shape of the entire film. However, he is quickly brought back down to earth. Mainly due to the presence on set of the mysterious Dr. Mansour, who oversees the production and ensures its appropriate, propagandistic tone.

 

The situation is further complicated by the affair Fahmy embarks on with the wife of one of the high-ranking generals.

This is the moment when fiction and reality begin to dangerously intertwine.

 

Eagles of the Republic is the conclusion of Tarik Saleh’s acclaimed Cairo trilogy, which also includes Murder at the Hilton (2017) and The Boy from Heaven (2022). Each film offers a sharp critique of the authoritarian regime, presented from a different perspective.

 

In the case of the final installment, presented as a spectacular political thriller, Saleh reflects on the role of art in the service of propaganda.