Tarik Saleh’s Eagles of the Republic follows George Fahmy, once Egypt’s most bankable star, as he confronts an impossible moral trial. Summoned by shadowy government agents to embody President Abdel Fattah el-Sisi in a state-sponsored biopic, Fahmy initially navigates the assignment with wry detachment.
Early scenes unfold on chaotic soundstages, where barking producers demand patriotic flair and the aging actor finds himself hustling for erectile medication under cover of night. As the regime’s grip tightens through threats against his son, the film shifts from dark comedy into a razor-sharp political thriller.
Set in contemporary Cairo under authoritarian rule, Saleh examines the collision of celebrity and coercion, asking how far one will bend when art becomes a weapon and family safety hangs in the balance.
Narrative & Thematic Exploration
Saleh divides the film into three narrative arcs, each escalating stakes and shifting tone. In the opening, on-set absurdities such as flubbed patriotic dialogue and producers obsessing over Al-Sisi’s hairstyle expose the regime’s presence in every frame.
A memorable sequence finds George darting into a pharmacy at night, revealing his vulnerability as both star and father. The middle section heightens tension when Dr. Mansour, the regime’s calm enforcer, demands unlimited reshoots until propaganda footage meets his approval.
This coercion forces George into a brutal choice: protect his family or preserve his artistic integrity. By the final act, lavish military ceremonies and a vertiginous helicopter sequence strip away any remaining pretense, trapping Fahmy in an environment where every gesture is under surveillance. Throughout these shifts, Saleh probes the struggle between coercion and free expression, illustrating how art can transform into a tool of power and how identity fractures when performance becomes reality.
Character & Performance Analysis
Fares Fares delivers a nuanced portrait of George Fahmy, a charismatic egotist whose vanity collides with paternal devotion. In early scenes, his swagger and clever retorts mask a simmering unease that bursts forth during a tense confrontation with Dr. Mansour.
Amr Waked’s portrayal of that bureaucrat is quietly menacing; his measured instructions and piercing gaze convey more dread than any overt threat. Lyna Khoudri’s Donna embodies the film industry’s complicity, balancing youthful zeal with the silent regret of those caught in a system they cannot escape.
The relationships George forges with Rula and Suzanne further expose his shifting loyalties and the human cost of his compromises. Moments when actors break character at the director’s call highlight how fragile the divide is between scripted performance and real-world peril.
Technical Craft & Directorial Style
Pierre Aïm’s cinematography underscores the film’s thematic tension by contrasting glossy studio lighting with the stark shadows of power corridors. A tracking shot that follows George through empty hallways reinforces his growing isolation, while Roger Rosenberg’s production design layers artificial backlot glamour over sterile bureaucratic offices to ground the narrative in political reality.
Alexandre Desplat’s score begins with playful motifs that underscore early comedy, then subtly shifts to low strings and muted brass as suspense mounts, guiding the audience through each tonal swing.
Saleh’s direction and editing reflect disciplined pacing: a leisurely opening gives way to rapid cuts and abrupt silences that punctuate moments of violence and dread. By undercutting humor with sudden tonal shifts—especially before the film’s climactic helicopter sequence—Saleh reminds viewers that laughter can be a fragile veneer over lethal stakes.
Eagles of the Republic premiered at the 2025 Cannes Film Festival on May 19, 2025, in the main competition, where it was nominated for the Palme d’Or. The film is scheduled for theatrical release in Sweden on September 19, 2025.
Full Credits
Director: Tarik Saleh
Writer: Tarik Saleh
Producers: Linus Stöhr Torell, Linda Mutawi, Johan Lindström, Alexandre Mallet-Guy
Cast: Fares Fares, Lyna Khoudri, Zineb Triki, Amr Waked, Cherien Dabis, Sherwan Haji, Husam Chadat, Ahmed Khairy, Donia Massoud, Suhaib Nashwan, Tamer Singer, Hassan El Sayed, Mohammed Nehmi, Pedram Hajigholi, Haitham Elsaadani
Director of Photography (Cinematographer): Pierre Aïm
Editor: Theis Schmidt
Composer: Alexandre Desplat
The Review
Eagles of the Republic
Saleh’s third Cairo entry balances biting satire with white-knuckle suspense, anchored by Fares’s magnetic performance and Waked’s chilling restraint. The film’s precise pacing and layered visuals turn its metacinematic premise into a sharp political parable that grips from first laugh to final shock. While occasional subplot slack dilutes momentum, the tension never really lets go, and technical flourishes amplify emotional stakes. Eagles of the Republic confirms Saleh’s gift for marrying dark humour with genuine peril.
PROS
- Fares Fares delivers a magnetic, multifaceted lead performance
- Seamless tonal shift from biting satire to edge-of-your-seat suspense
- Alexandre Desplat’s score subtly guides emotional transitions
- Pierre Aïm’s cinematography highlights the clash of artifice and power
CONS
- Several female characters feel underwritten
- Subplots occasionally slow the film’s momentum
- Abrupt tonal swings may unsettle some viewers
