The White King (Film)
‘The White King’ is not a film that will cheer you up.
It’s about a young boy who is growing up in a country ruled by a dictator, where rules are set in place, and where there is no freedom. This film comes at a time in our real world when we are dealing with the likes of Brexit and American President Donald Trump, and the possibility (probably not) that Trump will start banning all minorities and will control much what Americans do and say. Such is the story of ‘The White King.’ It’s a dystopian society called Homeland where Djata (Lorenzo Allchurch) and his parents Peter (Ross Patridge) and mother Hannah (Agyness Deyn) attempt to meek out a living. When Peter is arrested for being politically incorrect, Djata and Hannah are left to survive among (and are labeled traitors by the government) the rules and regulations their society has to abide by. And to make matters more intimidating, the community is overlooked by a huge statue called the White King – so big and imposing it’s as if it’s the dictator is literally looking down on them.
Djata gets to visit his grandparents where his grandfather teaches him to shoot. Djata is coming of age where soon enough he faces the prospect of perhaps going to war for his country, and who realizes that his mother is going slightly mad. ‘The White King’ is a film about Djata’s journey, his journey through life, through society, and growing up all too quick.
‘The Empire of the Sun’ comes to mind when trying to describe this film. While ‘Empire’ is a masterpiece and perhaps one of the best films ever made (and which starred a very young Christian Bale), ‘The White King’ of course does not measure up to ‘Empire.’ But it’s a quiet film with a strong message, supported by very good performances and a believable story. Adapted from a novel by Gyorgy Dragoman, and directed by Alex Helfrecht and Jörg Tittel, it’s a simple story that will leave an impression on you in these troubled times that we now live in. The plot in ‘The White King’ could soon become reality in Trump’s world. Scary.
