By Chlotrudis Independent Film Society
Director: Kristian Levring
Starring: Brion James | Bruce Davison | Chris Walker | David Bradley | David Calder | Janet McTeer | Jennifer Jason Leigh | Lia Williams | Miles Anderson | Romane Bohringer | Vusi Kunene
Country: denmark, sweden
Year: 2001
Running time: 108
IMDB: http://us.imdb.com/Details?0208911
Nathaniel says: “A group of international tourists on a bus ride through the deserts of Africa end up hundreds of miles off route and stranded in the middle of nowhere. While trying to survive the brutal conditions and limited food supplies —and out of collective boredom and desperation, they occupy themselves by attempting a production of King Lear while they wait for help.
“As usual with dogme films -the plot is a little off kilter and , at least on the surface level, requires a suspension of disbelief. The emotions and social commentary drummed up however are serious serious business. I would recommend this highly provided that …
“a) you can handle emotionally harrowing material -like FAITHLESS earlier this year -it cuts to the bone.
“b) you thrill to fine ensemble performances -Bruce Davison, Janet McTeer, Jennifer Jason Leigh, Romane Bohringer, etc… are all remarkable here.
“c) you don’t hate Dogme films outright.
“This is by far the most “beautiful” digital video made film I’ve seen -really saturated color and fine cinematography… a new high for the medium. The movie is really effective -sort of a “Survivor” for cineastes. What was most interesting about it for me was the layers of storytelling… how it touched on the human need to create and comment on existence. I don’t want to go into too much detail at this point but if you’re interested in it I would recommend it. ”
Laura says: “THE KING IS ALIVE attempts to encompass the human condition via a woefully off course tourist bus. Despite a couple of wrong turns, it takes us to places both known and uncharted.”
For Laura’s complete review: “http://www.reelingreviews.com/thekingisalive.htm”
Michael says: “For me, this film, was a misfire. While there were parts I enjoyed… thrilled to even, the whole just couldn’t get out of its own way. Ironically, I feel the basic set-up undercut the story. Stranding the cast in the desert, perhaps to heighten the risk factor and the urgency of the situation, worked against the emotional and personal conflict that were then played out. The story may have worked better if it were just a theater troupe putting on a version of King Lear while their petty jealousies and insecurities came to the fore.
“I realize that the filmmakers were trying to say something about society and the basest aspects of humanity when isolated and placed in a situation such as the one in the film, a la Lord of the Flies, but it just didn’t work for me. The filmmakers focused so much on the negative, while ignoring any attempts to show any camaraderie or attempts to really work together.
“That said, the movie was truly visually spectacular. DV is such an interesting movie medium because it has such a varied look to it from scene to scene and there are so many things the filmmakers can do with light. I would agree with Laura that the desert is truly the star of this film, and like her, the lack of sound in the overhead shots of the landscape were startling and really reinforced the isolation. The cinematography was intriguing and made for a visually compelling film.
“The performances as well were for quite accomplished, for the most part, with Janet McTeer (Songcatcher, Tumbleweeds), and David Bradley as the playwright who gets the stranded lot to perform King Lear, really shining through.”
Scot says: “I thought the sexual politics and petty jealousies were more apropos of a college age summer stock company than a dehydrated, anxious, sick and starving group of adult strangers. Again, I think this was a case of layering on lots of superficiality in the name of ‘gritty realism.’ Ironic, considering the wording of the Dogme 95 Manifesto. (http://www.tvropa.com/tvropa1.2/film/dogme95/the_vow/index.htm)”
Robin says: “The story, by Levring and Peter Aalbaek Jensen, required much dedication of purpose by the cast, but tends to keep the viewer at arm’s length. There are so many subplots and intrigues between and among the characters, it becomes difficult to empathize with any of them. Not enough time is given to any one player to allow you to know or care about them. The actors do a solid job in each portrayal, but there is not enough time to really flesh anyone
out to three-dimensional proportions.”
For Robin’s complete review: “http://www.reelingreviews.com/thekingisalive.htm”