You are here:

Pharaoh's War

Name: Pharaoh's War
Director: Raouf Abdul Aziz
Released: 2019
Duration: 110 min

Representation Score

3.9/10

Limited

2019

Director

Raouf Abdul Aziz

Runtime

110 minutes

Average Rating

No ratings yet

New Showbiz Analysis

Pharaoh's War is a character-driven action thriller that addresses the humanitarian crisis of Syrian refugees. By focusing on the protection of displaced populations, the film acknowledges significant regional and ethnic struggles. However, the film relies heavily on conventional hero and traditional gender hierarchies. The protagonist's masculine ability to act is the primary driver of the story, while female characters are sidelined to roles of victimhood. Ultimately, the film's emphasis on traditional family preservation and standard action archetypes limits its multi-layered complexity, reinforcing rather than challenging social norms.

Watch this, not that →

Category Breakdown

Does Pharaoh's War have LGBTQ+ representation?

Limited

The story focuses on traditional family relationships, particularly between a father and his son. There are no representations of non-straight or non-cisgender identities, nor any narratives that challenge the assumption that everyone is straight or cisgender.

How does Pharaoh's War portray gender?

Fair

Yehia drives the plot forward, acting as the main force of action. Female characters primarily serve as catalysts for conflict, often portrayed as needing male protection and framed through a lens of victimhood.

How racially and ethnically diverse is Pharaoh's War?

Good

The film highlights the experiences of Syrian refugees, making ethnic and regional identities central to the emotional impact. This focus engages with the plight of displaced populations and geopolitical issues.

How does Pharaoh's War represent religion and culture?

Fair

The narrative critiques extremist religious violence through the lens of traditional heroism. It focuses on localized struggles for justice and family reunification, avoiding broader secular or anti-Western themes.

Does Pharaoh's War include disability representation?

Minimal

There is no mention of characters with visible or invisible disabilities. Therefore, no assessment of neurodivergent or physical disabilities can be made.

Present on Screen

Meaningful thematic inclusion of Syrian refugees and the humanitarian crisis.
Engages with complex geopolitical and ethnic dynamics through its central conflict.

Limited or Absent

The reliance on traditional gender hierarchies limits women's ability to drive the story.
The narrative follows conventional hero clichés rather than exploring multi-layered complexity.
Lack of representation for non-assuming gender matches what was assigned at birth identities or diverse gender expressions.

Official Synopsis

Yehia, known as Pharaoh, reassembles a group of six of his old friends, each with a unique combating skill, to travel to Syria under the pretense of bounty hunting. Their real mission is to save his kidnapped son from the hands of Franco and his ISIS gangsters after they assaulted Syrian refugees, including Yehia's wife, and took away the children to a district that is currently under his control.

How are these scores produced? →