The King Is Alive (2000)
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61% of critics liked it
(66 reviews) -
52% of users liked it
(1,072 ratings)
Shot against the barren sand dunes of Africa's Namib Desert, The King Is Alive is the fourth film to adhere to the stripped-down aesthetic of the Dogma 95 movement, and the first to bear the directorial stamp of the manifesto's co-author Kristian Levring. The improvised, shot-on-digital… More Shot against the barren sand dunes of Africa's Namib Desert, The King Is Alive is the fourth film to adhere to the stripped-down aesthetic of the Dogma 95 movement, and the first to bear the directorial stamp of the manifesto's co-author Kristian Levring. The improvised, shot-on-digital video production concerns the exploits of almost a dozen tourists who find themselves stranded when their bus breaks down miles from civilization. A thespian amongst the group, Henry (David Bradley), is the first to suggest that their situation may be more dire than it seems. His doubts send the rest of the folks -- including American travelers Ray (Bruce Davison), Liz (Janet McTeer), Ashley (Brion James), and Gina (Jennifer Jason Leigh), and a high-minded Parisian, Catherine (Romane Bohringer) -- into fits of fear and dread. To get their minds off the heat, hunger, and dehydration, the castaways stage an impromptu reading of Shakespeare's King Lear, which they can only fitfully remember. As their situations worsen, the tourists begin to take out their personal aggressions on one another. The King Is Alive was shown as part of the 2000 Cannes and Toronto Film Festivals. ~ Michael Hastings, Rovi
- Directed By
- Kristian Levring
- Written By
- Kristian Levring, Anders Thomas Jensen
- Genres
- Drama, Horror, Art House & International
R,
- In Theaters
- May 11, 2001 Limited
- Studio
- IFC Films
Critic Reviews
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Lisa Nesselson, Variety
:ags in the middle, growing more interesting -- if hardly more original -- only as the situation deteriorates.
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Geoff Andrew, Time Out
It's all very watchable, thanks to excellent performances all around...
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Desson Thomson, Washington Post
It doesn't escape its own ascetic pretensions.
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Lisa Schwarzbaum, Entertainment Weekly
Pulsing with color and movement in a vast, dune filled landscape, this is a whole new way of using a now familiar bag of tricks.
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Rene Rodriguez, Miami Herald
The King Is Alive intrigues mainly for its spare style and brittle, sweat-soaked performances.
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Fresh (60% or more critics rated the movie positively)
Rotten (59% or fewer critics rated the movie positively)
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Cast
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Miles Anderson
as Jack
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Romane Bohringer
as Catherine
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David Bradley
as Henry
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David Calder
as Charles
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Bruce Davison
as Ray
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Brion James
as Ashley
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Jennifer Jason Leigh
as Gina
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Janet McTeer
as Liz
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Chris Walker
as Paul
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Lia Williams
as Amanda
- Peter Khubeke
- Vusi Kunene
