The White King

10 December 2018

The White King 2016

• Director: Alex Helfrecht and Jörg Tittel
• Based on the novel by György Dragomán
• Cast: Lorenzo Allchurch, Joanathan Pryce, Fiona Shaw, Agyness Deyn, Greta Scacchi
• Personal “oh yeah him/her” reaction, i.e. have seen this actor in:
• Jonathan Pryce – Wolf Hall, Woman in Gold, Pirates of the Caribbean, The Brothers Grimm, Very Annie Mary, Tomorrow Never Knows, Evita, Glengarry Glen Ross, Brazil, Timon of Athens and on stage (the Globe in London)The Merchant of Venice
• Fiona Shaw – The Tree of Life, Harry Potter, Jane Eyre, My Left Foot
• Greta Scacchi – Brideshead Revisited, Daniel Deronda, The Red Violin, Presumed Innocent
• Why? Jonathan Pryce and Fiona Shaw
• Seen: 7 December 2018      

       In a totalitarian society a happy family – mum, dad, son – is shattered when the dad is taken by soldiers. The boy Djata is told it’s because the dad’s expertise is needed.

       It’s been thirty years since the independence of the Homeland was achieved through some kind of agrarian revolution. Life goes on in the dreary barracks where Djata and his mother live. They’re cheerful enough.

       A huge statue of the hero Young Hank stands guard over the Homeland. Djata’s dad had scoffed, saying Hank had never existed and the statue hides a vast treasure.

       The soldiers come back. Djata learns that his dad is in a prison camp and his mother is considered a traitor. Life is no longer cheerful. Djata goes to visit his father’s parents (Pryce and Shaw). They are fanatical patriots and supporters of the revolution and current society. Djata’s mother thinks they’re trying to brainwash him.

       It’s grim, violent and dramatically filmed but, oddly, I find it difficult to care about the characters and to believe in the plausibility of the society. It all seems so contrived. It seems to be warning us – but what? Don’t start a totalitarian society?

       But it’s visually strong and I like Jonathan Pryce. We saw him as Shylock at the Globe in London and he was brilliant. Fiona Shaw is another favourite. They both lift the film and some of the scenes are strong. But as a whole the film doesn’t hold together.

2 ½ * of 5 (Hal gave it 4*.)