An Egypt Affair

Rating: 8/10

Director: Marlin Darrah

Writers: Will Patching, Eric Weinstock

Style: Adventure Thriller

Rated: PG-13

Time: 1 hour and 23 minutes

Trailer: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7a66fUIli24

Review by Mike Szymanski

A languid trip down the Nile turns into a sensual nightmare as an unexpected couple boards the boat.

With a steamy cast, twisting plot and a stunning backdrop, “An Egypt Affair” is one affair you won’t want to miss. Every cast member seems like they were treated for their roles, and the storyline (which is penned by two writers who have a history with crime adventure thrillers) doesn’t disappoint.

The story follows Dylan Fontaine (played by the handsome Atlana-born actor Jarred Harper) who is a wealthy executive who is working at his father’s mining company and has aspirations for public office.

Dylan is trying to jump-start his marriage by taking his wife Alexa (Stacey Marie Williams) on a cruise with his friend Jake that he’s known since grade school (played by Nick Dreselly Thomas) and his wife Amber (Lesley Grant).

They are headed on an exotic cruise on a small yacht to see the secrets of the Nile led by Captain Amaros (Alfonso DiLuca). But, they make an unscheduled stop and pick up an unusual couple, Safiya (stunningly portrayed by Yolanthe Cabau) and her crusty brash partner Darius (Massi Furlan).

Somehow the couple seems to awkwardly fit in and the intrusion is brushed away by Dylan who becomes entranced by Safiya. In one intensely erotic scene, he watches her dance with the natives on the beach, and she catches his wandering eyes and flirts back.

The whole interaction is not lost on Dylan’s wife, nor Safina’s partner.

With some surprising backstabbing and threats of exposure, the plot involves treachery, bribery and diamonds.

Director Darrah traveled to more than 140 countries while making more than 100 documentaries and travel-adventure shows. So, he knew where to set his thriller in Egypt for this movie after 45 years of movie-making.

Darrah’s dramatic films “Monsoon Wife” was shot in Cambodia and “Amazon Queen” was shot in Brazil. That film crew in Brazil mostly accompanied him to Egypt for this movie.

The director says, “Our style of filmmaking is fearless, compelling, bold, confident and always — always — shooting in a style that is authentic and true to the country in which we shoot. We don’t cheat by using green screen and computer-generated imagery. We shoot real and honest, striving to bring out the rich emotional aspects of the film story. We succeed in having the audiences truly see, hear, and feel the gritty authenticity of the story we’re telling — in this case, an exciting story takes place in timeless Egypt.”

A recent two-hour documentary that Darrah shot in Egypt was recently screened at the Cairo Opera House to great accolades. He won more than 200 awards and nominations at more than 100 film festivals throughout the world.

Already this movie won honors at festivals in Mexico, Miami, London, San Diego, Rome, Sweden and more.

This is a fun affair.

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