During the Six-Day War in 1967, Israel seized substantial territories, including the Sinai Peninsula, which originally belonged to Egypt. This situation sparked a fierce desire among Arabs to reclaim their land, leading to Palestinian groups planning terrorist attacks against Israel.
On September 3, 1973, Ashraf Marwan (Marwan Kenzari) finds himself in a precarious situation at the Rome International Airport, negotiating with Arab terrorists who possess a missile launcher he smuggled into Italy concealed in his suitcase. He insists on leaving at once, posing as an Egyptian diplomat to avoid the attack that the insurgents are planning against a commercial airline bound for Israel.
Flashback to 1970, Ashraf resides in London with his wife, Mona (Maisa Abd Elhadi), the daughter of Egyptian President Gamal Abdel Nasser (Waleed Zuaiter). While raising their son, Ashraf confronts Nasser about the ongoing Israeli conflict. He advocates for a diplomatic approach instead of continued violence, urging Nasser to seek peace, especially with the US as a mediator. However, Nasser rebuffs him, fearing the loss of USSR support, leading to a tense atmosphere within their relationship.
In a twist of fate, after overhearing Nasser's directive for Mona to divorce him, Ashraf feels trapped and ashamed, compounded by the discovery that Nasser is monitoring his movements through Sami Sharaf (Slimane Dazi). This vigilance creates suspicion that Ashraf is unfaithful, particularly regarding his interactions with actress Diana Ellis (Hannah Ware). In a moment of desperation, Ashraf attempts to reach out to the Israeli Ambassador, Michael Comay, but is denied contact.
Following Nasser’s untimely death due to a heart attack, Ashraf’s family returns to Cairo where Vice President Anwar Sadat (Sasson Gabai) assumes leadership. Sadat, more inclined to embrace the US, distances himself from Nasser's officials, including Sami. Demonstrating his loyalty, Ashraf gains Sadat's trust by exposing high-level corruption within the government, gradually establishing himself as a key political figure in Egypt, although at the cost of his familial relationships. He still finds solace in personal moments, like reading The Boy Who Cried Wolf to his son.
Amidst this chaos, Ashraf becomes entangled with Mossad agents, who present him with evidence of his earlier attempts to reveal state secrets. Meeting with his Mossad contact, Alex (Toby Kebbell), Ashraf starts disseminating valuable intelligence, earning the code name "the angel." Sadat, concerned about his hold on power, pressures Ashraf for solutions, not realizing that Ashraf’s actions don’t necessarily align with his military ambitions.
As tensions escalate, Ashraf becomes a reluctant messenger, warning his Israeli counterparts of imminent attacks that do not materialize, causing Mossad to doubt his reliability. After being kidnapped and assaulted by Mossad, Ashraf negotiates for peace instead of retaliation, convincing them to engage diplomatically with Sadat regarding potential land returns.
Simultaneously, Ashraf builds a rapport with Muammar Gaddafi (Tsahi Halevi), aiming to secure Egypt's access to Libyan oil. Amidst rising tensions due to Israel's actions against a Libyan commercial flight, Ashraf counterbalances the need for vengeance with a strategic maneuvering to avoid escalating conflicts.
Ultimately, back at the airport on September 3, 1973, Ashraf sabotages the missile launcher handed to the terrorists, rendering it useless and alerting the Italian authorities, who apprehend the assailants.
Having regained the confidence of Mossad, Ashraf now faces another critical juncture: he alerts Alex and Mossad chief Zvi Zamir (Ori Pfeffer) of an impending Egyptian assault on Yom Kippur. However, his warnings are dismissed yet again. This instance cleverly echoes the tale of The Boy Who Cried Wolf, as Ashraf devises a pretext for a swift yet effective surprise attack on Israel, knowing that true peace necessitates strategic sacrifices.
The ensuing stalemate during the Yom Kippur War eventually leads to landmark peace negotiations, culminating in the historic treaty celebrated by Sadat and Menachem Begin, both recipients of the Nobel Peace Prize. Unfortunately, Ashraf’s marriage deteriorates, as Mona remains oblivious to his actual motives and efforts behind his clandestine trips and social engagements.
Years later, Alex reconnects with Ashraf, presenting him with a copy of Aesop's Fables and acknowledges the wisdom embedded in the Boy Who Cried Wolf strategy. Ashraf reflects on his experience, asserting that if peace is the outcome, then all sacrifices have been worthwhile.
In a poignant closing note, an epilogue reveals the mysterious circumstances surrounding Ashraf's death in 2007, when he fell from his London balcony. He is honored as a national hero, uniquely revered by both Israeli and Egyptian citizens alike.
