The Nile Hilton Incident
The Nile Hilton Incident

Movie spotlight

The Nile Hilton Incident

2017
Movie
111 min
English

Cairo, 2011. A police officer investigates the murder of a woman in a luxurious hotel in the days leading up to the Egyptian revolution.

Insights

IMDb6.4/10
Rotten Tomatoes70%
Metacritic65/100
Google Users75%
Director: Tarik SalehGenres: Crime, Drama, Thriller

Plot Summary

In Cairo, a detective is tasked with investigating the murder of a cabaret singer. As he delves deeper into the case, he becomes entangled in a web of corruption, political intrigue, and the powerful elite, forcing him to confront the dark underbelly of the city and his own moral compass. The investigation leads him through various strata of Egyptian society, revealing the stark contrasts between wealth and poverty, and the pervasive influence of those in power. Ultimately, he must decide how far he is willing to go to uncover the truth in a system designed to conceal it.

Critical Reception

The Nile Hilton Incident received generally positive reviews from critics, who praised its tense atmosphere, compelling performances, and timely exploration of political corruption in Egypt. While some noted its slow burn pacing, many found it to be a gripping and thought-provoking thriller that effectively captured the atmosphere of post-Arab Spring Cairo. Audience reception was also largely favorable, appreciating its crime-thriller elements and its socio-political commentary.

What Reviewers Say

  • Praised for its gritty atmosphere and effective depiction of corruption.

  • Fares Fares delivers a strong performance as the conflicted detective.

  • A taut thriller that offers insight into contemporary Egyptian society.

Google audience: Google users largely appreciated the film's suspenseful plot and its realistic portrayal of the challenges faced by law enforcement in a corrupt environment. Many commended the director's ability to create a palpable sense of tension and the strong performances from the cast.

Awards & Accolades

Won the World Cinema Dramatic Competition Grand Jury Prize at the Sundance Film Festival.

Fun Fact

Director Tarik Saleh drew inspiration from the real-life murder of singer Songbird Laila, which occurred in a Cairo hotel in 2008.

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My Review

TMDB Reviews

1 reviews
CinemaSerf

CinemaSerf

When a young woman is murdered in the high-class Hilton hotel in Cairo, veteran police officer “Noredin” (Fares Fares) is drafted in for what everyone expects to be a routine investigation where nobody really cares. Quite swiftly, however, ...