Cairo Time

Cairo Time follows an American magazine writer (Patricia Clarkson’s Juliette) as she arrives in Cairo hoping to spend some time with her husband, though his ongoing work-related absence ultimately forces Juliette to see the sights with a friendly local named Tareq (Alexander Siddig). Director Ruba Nadda does a superb job of luring the viewer into the proceedings almost instantly, as the filmmaker effectively captures the inherent chaos and sleaziness of the titular city – yet it’s just as clear that the awe-inspiring visuals and Nadda’s emphasis on seriously scenic locales inevitably ensures that the film comes off as an unexpectedly captivating travelogue. The plot, which is certainly as thin as one could possibly envision, exists primarily as a springboard for Juliette’s continuing escapades in and around Cairo, with her back-and-forth banter with Siddig’s character establishing itself as a highlight within the proceedings virtually from the get-go – as Clarkson and Siddig offer up compelling, thoroughly ingratiating work that draws the viewer into even the most seemingly inconsequential of their encounters (eg the two share a nighttime cruise around the Nile river). Siddig’s effortlessly magnetic performance is nothing short of a revelation, as the actor, best known for his role on Deep Space Nine, more than holds his own opposite an equally affecting Clarkson and cements his place as the film’s secret weapon early on. The end result is a very low-key, very charming little movie that’s as delightful as it is entertaining, with the touching (and unexpectedly heartbreaking) conclusion ensuring that Cairo Time lingers in one’s mind long after the end credits have rolled.

***1/2 out of ****