‘Eagles of the Republic’ (2025)

Showing the world the current political atmosphere in Egypt, writers Tarik Saleh and Magdi Abdelhadi complete Saleh's "Cairo trilogy" by further exploring state corruption via the life of famed actor George Fahmy (Fares Fares) as he is slowly yet surely pulled into the propaganda machine and is coerced into taking a lead role lauding the current leader of Egypt.

Following Fahmy as he navigates the entertainment industry in Egypt, we see him pay lip service to the morality police and recite throwaway lines appeasing the higher-ups who enforce the restrictive ethics guidelines within the industry and on a larger political scale.

With an aloof yet cautious persona, Fares’ Fahmy navigates life as he enjoys being acting royalty. Not living too much to excess however, Fahmy still drives his old beater, citing it as his first love that he cannot let go of, and maintains strong personal relationships with his colleagues.

Not shying away from the character’s flaws, Fares showcases Fahmy’s selfish side as he has separated from his wife and become a distant father to his son in favour of pursuing a younger woman and maintaining an active social life at clubs where alcohol is served.

Being what he is, Fahmy is coerced into starring in a biographical film about the leader of the country. Reminiscent of a regime akin to totalitarianism, Fahmy tries to navigate his path cautiously as he is constantly monitored and occasionally threatened.

With an ambitious premise, Saleh directs the thriller with unwavering fervour. Showcasing how quickly things can take a turn once the regime has set eyes on you, Fahmy is slowly drained of hope and the will to not cooperate with the demands set upon him. Suffering the loss of an actor and a dear friend, Fahmy is finally completely broken into submission.

In between struggling to film a fabricated propaganda film, Fahmy crosses paths with Suzanne (Zineb Triki) the wife of the Minister of Defence. Drawn to one another, they begin an affair, with Fahmy further endangering himself as he blurs all lines between himself, his morals and the regime.

In an unexpected turn, Fahmy is completely misled and used as a puppet in delivering a speech aimed directly at the leader of the country, Abdel Fattah el-Sisi. During the speech, an attack is carried out on Sisi. Unsuccessful, the coup is thwarted with Fahmy’s handler Mansour (Amr Waked) carrying on a swift and merciless hunt for the guilty conspirators. Again, not shying away from the brutality of the very real violence that is carried out daily, Saleh showcases a succession of executions carried out in pursuit of the guilty parties.

A well-executed insight into the brutal nature of a totalitarian regime and how it operates from the perspective of the entertainment industry, ‘Eagles of the Republic’ delivers an intriguing and suspenseful thriller. Carried on the shoulders of Fares, the character study uncovers the slow erosion of a person’s character. Fight it as he may, the regime functions to silence and eliminate any voice against it, especially those who show any sign of intelligence or unwillingness to submit entirely to the system.

Score: 3/4