Cairo Time (2009)

81% of critics liked it
(77 reviews)
60% of users liked it
(4,353 ratings)

Juliette (Patricia Clarkson), a magazine editor, travels to Cairo to meet her husband, Mark (Tom McCamus), a UN official working in Gaza, for a three week vacation. When he is unavoidably delayed, he sends his friend Tareq (Alexander Siddig), who had been his security officer for many years, to… More Juliette (Patricia Clarkson), a magazine editor, travels to Cairo to meet her husband, Mark (Tom McCamus), a UN official working in Gaza, for a three week vacation. When he is unavoidably delayed, he sends his friend Tareq (Alexander Siddig), who had been his security officer for many years, to escort her throughout the beautiful and exotic city. The last thing anyone expects is that they will fall in love. Cairo Time is a love letter to a city intertwined with a love story about a woman. It began when Syrian-Canadian writer/director Ruba Nadda first visited Cairo with her family many years ago. Returning a decade ago with one of her sisters, (and no longer under the protective eye of her father) they had memorable adventures. "The city was beautiful and the people were beautiful," Nadda recalled. Having lived in Damascus, and subsequently traveled the world, Nadda never forgot the grandeur and the chaos of this ancient city that was originally settled in Paleolithic times. Sitting at the border of what was once Upper and Lower Egypt, the area that was to become the metropolis of Cairo has played host to the Greeks, Romans, Crusaders, the Ottomans, Napoleon, and the British and is now one of the most densely populated cities in the world. "I remember the city being alive. It's gritty and historical and seething with humanity and I just had to capture it on screen." Truly, a journey through Cairo is a journey through time and it awakens your soul. It was during Nadda's many trips to international film festivals with her 14 short films and her previous feature, Sabah, that she came to appreciate the feelings of introspection and melancholy that traveling alone engenders. From these experiences came Cairo Time, something Nadda deems a "real love story, but one that is very un-West because to me the West is about acquiring, accomplishing, deadlines and running, running, running. The central character, Juliette, is suddenly forced to slow down and move on Cairo time." This film has a West-meets-East quality to the unexpected, unrequited love between an Arab man and a North American woman. It's also a throw to old style, classic films reminiscent of the restrained, emotional tension in the work of Jane Austen. Juliette is a woman who married young and still ardently loves her husband, Mark, who works abroad. Their children have grown up and moved away. Life, doing what it usually does to a marriage, has replaced their hopes and dreams with accomplishment and responsibilities. In the back of her head, Juliette had thought that sooner or later, she and her husband would have time for each other, which was the reason for her trip to Cairo. "I love this woman," explained Nadda. "She is quiet. And she has a sadness that's just under the surface which comes from a lifetime of being by herself a lot because she's been stood up by a husband whose work has often taken priority." Unable to meet Juliette when she lands, but knowing that she is an independent woman who is likely to head off on her own, Mark asks Tareq to care for her. For years, Mark had trusted Tareq with his own life, so it made sense to extend that trust to Juliette's wellbeing. Once at the hotel, Juliette is alone again. Unwilling to wait quietly for her husband's arrival, every effort she makes to venture out on her own is rebuffed. Cairo is not a gentle city. With a population of 17 million, the noise is unbearable. The heat, mixed with dust, is oppressive. Traffic does not adhere to lanes or stop lights. And women, particularly foreigners, do not easily move about in public alone. Quickly, Juliette learns that the simple activities of everyday living in Canada, like walking across the street, become a test of wills in Cairo. And so she turns to Tareq who shows her first, Cairo, and then herself. -- (C) Official Site

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Directed By: Ruba Nadda
Written By: Ruba Nadda
Genres: Drama, Romance, Art House & International

In Theaters: Aug 6, 2010 Limited
Studio: IFC Films

Critic Reviews

Peter Rainer, Christian Science Monitor
The lovely twilit moments in this movie stay with one, and that summoning them up in your mind is like slowing down time.
Moira MacDonald, Seattle Times
Clarkson lights up Ruba Nadda's stately drama Cairo Time like the moon on a summer night, making every moment luminous with quiet, resigned longing.
David Lewis, San Francisco Chronicle
Confirms two things that hardly need confirming: The Egyptian capital is a breathtaking metropolis, and Patricia Clarkson is one of the best actors in the world.
Rob Nelson, Minneapolis Star Tribune
Cairo Time proves hard to resist, the film's familiarity gradually giving way to a playfulness that feels new to the impossible-love subset of bourgeois melodrama.
Steven Rea, Philadelphia Inquirer
Cairo Time: Take the time to see it.
David Lewis, Houston Chronicle
This is a poetic, romantic, emotionally complex film that sneaks up on you, particularly in its final scenes.
Chuck Bowen, Slant Magazine
Cairo Time is an uneven, well-acted romance that reveals a promising new director.
Richard Knight, Knight at the Movies
This is a film where the promise of romance is almost as important as the romance itself. And perceptively gliding through it, Clarkson and her intricate yet simple approach is a quiet sensation.
Shannon Wright, Moviedex
Cairo Time's narrative is manna for the menopausal, but, at the very least, worthy for the rest.
Sean Means, Salt Lake Tribune
Not much happens in "Cairo Time," and it doesn?t happen in slow, languid fashion.
Ken Hanke, Mountain Xpress (Asheville, NC)
What makes Cairo Time work stems from the playing of the leads and the manner in which Nadda presents the setting.
Philip Martin, Arkansas Democrat-Gazette
...has at its heart the mildest kind of dalliance, a betrayal so small and excusable it mightn't even register.
Dennis Schwartz, Ozus' World Movie Reviews
Clarkson, in one of her few leading roles, is the film's bright spot and reason for seeing the film.
Chris Foran, Milwaukee Journal Sentinel
Clarkson, as always, is genuine and terrific.
Margot Harrison, Seven Days
It's hard to call Cairo Time a "romance." Really, what it is is one of the rare realistic movies about attraction.
Mike Scott, Times-Picayune
Clarkson not only anchors Nadda's film, but she lifts it up onto her shoulders, carrying it along and helping it become an emotional and thoughtful story of one woman's journey of self-discovery.
Dan Lybarger, MovieMaker Magazine
Flirtation is often sexier than consummation. There's a constant 'should I or shouldn't I' tension that gives a tale some spine.
Peter Canavese, Groucho Reviews
The picturesque romantic travelogue...is as obvious but elegant as the bit of symbolism that ends it.
Robert W. Butler, Kansas City Star
A sumptuous feast for heart, head, eye and ear.
Jeff Vice, Deseret News, Salt Lake City
The at-times slow and indulgent pacing of Cairo Time will frustrate a few viewers, even if the Egyptian landmarks and scenery is stunning.

Read all 21 critic reviews

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Fresh (60% or more critics rated the movie positively)

Rotten (59% or fewer critics rated the movie positively)

Featured Audience Ratings

Universal D

Fancy a little trip abroad? You could do worst than this sweet gem about an American woman who gets to see Cairo through the eyes of the people who live there. At first I thought it moved slowly. By the time I realised that, no, I was watching too fast, it was over and, like any… More
Fancy a little trip abroad? You could do worst than this sweet gem about an American woman who gets to see Cairo through the eyes of the people who live there. At first I thought it moved slowly. By the time I realised that, no, I was watching too fast, it was over and, like any good vacation, over too quickly. The leads submit intelligent, nuanced, adult performances and the experience should resonate for some time. And then you go to the Pyramids.
Cynthia S

Nice movie. Nothing too exciting.
Julie B

A beautiful film, it unfolds slowly and with great care. Patricia Clarkson projects a natural ease that only looks easy to achieve.
Walter M

"Cairo Time" is a quietly winning and beautifully photgraphed film with occasional obvious moments of direction. It starts with Juliette(Patricia Clarkson) arriving in Cairo, disappointed to find her husband, Mark, a United Nations official, is stuck in Gaza for the time… More
"Cairo Time" is a quietly winning and beautifully photgraphed film with occasional obvious moments of direction. It starts with Juliette(Patricia Clarkson) arriving in Cairo, disappointed to find her husband, Mark, a United Nations official, is stuck in Gaza for the time being. She is instead met by Tareq(Alexander Siddig), Mark's longtime associate who has retired to run his father's coffee shop. They are not out of the airport before they meet Yasmine(Amina Annabi), an old friend of Tareq's, who invites them to a wedding. Left to her own devices, Juliette wanders the city and the movie uses her experiences, both good and bad, to explore the beautiful city and its relation to the West.(Surprisingly, the only other movie I can think of that was filmed in Cairo was "The Spy who Loved Me.") I had never realized the pyramids are so close to the city and the White Desert is particularly breathtaking. Interlinked with these highlights is the inability of Juliette to walk alone without being harassed and almost being run over in the street. It is ironic that in such a part of the world where women are expected to have a submissive role, she is experiencing freedom for the first time. Almogst the contingent at the embassy, there are suggestions to fix the city, changing things they do not understand, to make it more tourist friendly but wouldn't that rob Cairo of whatever makes it so unique in the first place? On a far more benign level, there is Mark's work in Gaza and the question if he is achieving anything worthwhile amid Juliette's concerns. Maybe all they need is a little faith.
Jeff T

Where you fall on the scale of enjoyment for this slender little mood piece about two dewy eyed souls drifting towards (or away) from each other will probaby depend on how much you find your fingers drifting towards the Travel Channel on your remote while watching TV in the middle of… More
Where you fall on the scale of enjoyment for this slender little mood piece about two dewy eyed souls drifting towards (or away) from each other will probaby depend on how much you find your fingers drifting towards the Travel Channel on your remote while watching TV in the middle of the night. Because this flick is as much a travelogue set in Cairo as it is anything else; probably much more so. Exploring every corner of the city while getting to know each other, stranded traveler Patricia Clarkson finds herself getting all goopy with her guide, Alexander Siddig. They are both, of course, quite swell here, but they're filling in a lot of gaps in the not-quite-there screenplay. Yes, yes, I get it. It's elliptical. I know, I know. They can't say what they're really feeling. But shouldn't their NOT saying be more interested than the pretty locales they're not saying the stuff in? Like I said, how you answer that question will dictate what you'll think. I know how I'd answer it...
Sol C

The performances of Alexander Siddig and Patricia Clarkson are the best reason to watch the film. They shine on screen and have a great on screen chemistry in the film. The film kind of reminded me of movies like Before Sunrise, Before Sunset, Bridges of Madison County, One Day, and A… More
The performances of Alexander Siddig and Patricia Clarkson are the best reason to watch the film. They shine on screen and have a great on screen chemistry in the film. The film kind of reminded me of movies like Before Sunrise, Before Sunset, Bridges of Madison County, One Day, and A Passage to India. The cinematography was really good in the film. The pacing was off though. I do recommend the film cause of the performances of Clarkson and Siddig.
Deb S

Plot: Patricia Clarkson (Joan) plays the wife of a U.N. worker who comes to Egypt with the anticipation that her husband will be there to greet her. Unfortunately her husband is unable to break away from the conflict of his work to join his wife and so she is left alone. He sends… More
Plot: Patricia Clarkson (Joan) plays the wife of a U.N. worker who comes to Egypt with the anticipation that her husband will be there to greet her. Unfortunately her husband is unable to break away from the conflict of his work to join his wife and so she is left alone. He sends instead his close friend. Alexander Siddig (Tariq) to meet her and Tariq becomes her guide and her friend. To some extent the movie is about a woman traveling alone in an Islamic country, her own vulnerability in the face of on-street harassment as a white woman in an Egyptian world, the subtle development of a friendship between two temporarily lonely persons mixed in with an exotic environment and the cultural differences that both attract her and some which threaten her. Will this friendship lead to something more? Watch it to find out.
Alec B

Its nice to see a middle age romance be told from a mature realistic perspective with mature realistic characters.
Nicolas K

Cairo is a city full of diversity, full of culture, full of life...Clarkson and Siddig as well as the photography are great but the story did not sweep me off my feet. It is a movie I would have preferred to watch with my baby in my arms.
Leo L

A wonderfully, and intriguing, movie directed by Ruba Nadda (whom also directed "Sabah: A Love Story") follows the blossoming friendship, and love, between Juliette and Tareq. As Juliette arrives in Cairo, she receives news that her husband Mark will be delayed. In his… More
A wonderfully, and intriguing, movie directed by Ruba Nadda (whom also directed "Sabah: A Love Story") follows the blossoming friendship, and love, between Juliette and Tareq. As Juliette arrives in Cairo, she receives news that her husband Mark will be delayed. In his stead, she meets Tareq (Mark's reliant Security Officer) at the airport. He shows her the scenery of the city, and entertains her, while awaiting her husband's arrival. As she grows weary and lonely, Juliette and Tareq's friendship develops into love. Breathtaking scenery. Beautiful music. Patricia Clarkson, Alexander Siddig, Amina Annabi, Elena Anaya, and Tom McCamus stars. Definitely worthy!
Bill C

Although framed by the conflict of the middle-east, this film tries to rise above the normal everyone is or is connected to a terrorist genre which is getting a little tiring. An hour and a half of looking at Patricia Clarkson not bad time spent. surprisingly her role is held mainly… More
Although framed by the conflict of the middle-east, this film tries to rise above the normal everyone is or is connected to a terrorist genre which is getting a little tiring. An hour and a half of looking at Patricia Clarkson not bad time spent. surprisingly her role is held mainly to reaction shots. Alexander Siddig finally gets a chance to show his acting chops outside of STNG and being type cast as a terrorist. As a weird note the Arabic chanting which sound normally like an injured goat being beat'n with bag pipes was enjoyable in this film.
Ina S

Quiet, beautifully narrated little film with a fantastic Patricia Clarkson.
Daisy M

Another movie that I got to see during the AIFF, Aruba International Film Festival.Cairo time was about Juliette, played by Patricia Clarkson, who I had the opportunity to talk to her after the movie. She looked beautifuler in reality then she was in the movie.Her character travel to… More
Another movie that I got to see during the AIFF, Aruba International Film Festival.Cairo time was about Juliette, played by Patricia Clarkson, who I had the opportunity to talk to her after the movie. She looked beautifuler in reality then she was in the movie.Her character travel to Cairo, where she was to meet her husband, but he got stuck in the Gaza, so he send his employer Tareq to take care of her. Who showed her Cairo, then herself. The last thing one could expect that they will fall in love. Beautiful movie directed and written by Ruba Nadda who was also on the red carpet, presenting one more of her production, after her I'll always come to you (2000) Unsettled (2001) and Sabah in 2005.I look forward to watch more works of this director.
Linda K

Beautiful film and very good chemistry between Patricia Clarkson and Alexander Siddig!

Read all 14 featured audience ratings

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Cast

Patricia Clarkson
as Juliette
Alexander Siddig
as Tareq
Elena Anaya
as Kathryn
Amina Annabi
as Yasmeen
Tom McCamus
as Mark
Mona Hala
as Jameelah
Mohamed Abdel Fattah
as Customs Officer
Hossam Abdulla
as Porter
Nabil Shazli
as Manager
Fadia Nadda
as Hanan
Ahmed Ghareeb Hanafi
as Propositioning Man
Mohamoud El Gazar
as Shoe Shopkeeper
Roanne Bell
as Sharon
Andrew Cullen
as Jim
Katie Sherif
as Petroleum Wife #1
Michelle Power
as Petroleum Wife #2
Sarah Farouk Ahmed
as Petroleum Wife #3
Abdullah Ibrahim
as Mohammed
Ibramo Wafik Aboul
as Driver
Seoud
as Abu Hamedi
Magdy Hafez
as Magdy
Vincenzo
as Caucasian
Nagham Osman
as Najah
Ahmed El Ashry
as Waiter
Magda Thabet
as Amira
Robert Pandini
as Italian Man
Mariam Mikiwi
as Italian Woman
Ahmed Abu Seda
as Winking Arab Man
Sherif Attira
as Internet Man
Khouloud Kamel
as Suha (8 year old
Mohamed Shahin
as Israeli Soldier
Heba Hammad
as Young Chambermaid
Esraa Atef-El Shenawy
as Young Carpet Weaver
Ibrahim Salah
as Israeli Officer
Amr Abul Nasr
as Male Party-Goer #1
Cosima
as Female Party-Goer #1
Uta
as Female Party-Goer #2
Nader Basyouni
as Male Party-Goer #2
Radi Ali Ahmed
as Call to Prayer Imam
Tarek Hariri
as Bus Driver
Miso Kontrec
as Stunt Scooter Driver
Roee Sharon
as Samira
Eman El Nagar
as Female Stunt Driver
Abdel Hameed El Belkassy
as Taxi Driver
Gigi
as Ukrainian Belly Dancer
Mariam Aboul Magd
as Young Blushing Girl
Hesham Saleh
as Young Greenskeeper
Mohamed Waleed
as Carpet Shop Owner
Wagif
as Cartouche Shopkeeper
Hesham Abou El Magd
as Groom
Daniel Iron
as Groom

See more (51)

Cairo Time (2009)

Critic Reviews

Featured Audience Ratings

Universal D

Cynthia S

Julie B

Walter M

Jeff T

Sol C

Deb S

Alec B

Nicolas K

Leo L

Bill C

Ina S

Daisy M

Linda K

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