2021-2030 Drama Sweden Tarik Saleh Thriller

Tarik Saleh – Walad Min Al Janna AKA Boy from Heaven AKA Cairo Conspiracy (2022)

adminFebruary 27, 2023

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On the first day back after the summer holidays, the grand imam collapses and dies in front of his students in a prestigious university in Cairo. This marks the start of a ruthless battle for influence to take his place.

After a Sundance win and an international breakthrough with his Cairo-set thriller The Nile Hilton Incident [+], Swedish director Tarik Saleh was also forced to wince as the film got banned from Egyptian screens, as it was considered “unflattering” in its portrayal of the national police force. Hardly one to curtail his visions, Saleh now returns to the country of his paternal roots with Boy from Heaven [+], playing in the 75th Cannes International Film Festival’s competition section. This dense tale of ugly intrigue takes place behind the walls of Cairo’s Al-Azhar Mosque and University, the haven of the Sunni Islam world, and its absolute power centre.