The King Is Alive (2000)

When a bus breaks down in the desert, the passengers decide to stage "King Lear."

Writers:

William Shakespeare (inspired by play "King Lear"), Kristian Levring (screenplay),

Stars:

Miles Anderson, Romane Bohringer, David Bradley

3 wins & 2 nominations.

Cast

Complete credited cast:
Miles Anderson	...	Jack
Romane Bohringer	...	Catherine
David Bradley	...	Henry
David Calder	...	Charles
Bruce Davison	...	Ray
Brion James	...	Ashley
Peter Khubeke	...	Kanana (as Peter Kubheka)
Vusi Kunene	...	Moses
Jennifer Jason Leigh	...	Gina
Janet McTeer	...	Liz
Chris Walker	...	Paul
Lia Williams	...	Amanda

Storyline

While shifting airports by bus in Africa, a group of passengers is driven to the middle of nowhere in the desert by the driver that is following a defective compass. They run out of gas and they reach a ghost village inhabited by a single man, Kanana. One passenger that has experience with desert gives five advices to the others to survive in the spot, among them to keep the spirit high, while he travels through the desert seeking for help. One intellectual in the stranded group suggests the performance of King Lear to keep the morale of the survivors. Along the days, while hope decreases, the tension increases among the survivors.

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Plot Keywords:

desert | bus | stranded | village | title in title | 

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Taglines:

As the sand shifts...madness nears.

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Genres:

Drama

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Motion Picture Rating (MPAA)

Rated R for sexuality and language

Details

Country:

Sweden Denmark USA

Language:

English French

Release Date:

11 May 2001 (USA)

Also Known As:

Dogme 4

Filming Locations:

Kolmanskop, Sperrgebiet, Namibia

Box Office

Opening Weekend:

$17,929 (USA) (11 May 2001)

Gross:

$103,505 (USA) (10 August 2001)

Company Credits

Production Co:

Newmarket Capital Group, Good Machine, Zentropa Entertainments

Technical Specs

Runtime:

110 min 105 min (TV) 105 min (DVD)

Sound Mix:

Dolby

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

2.35 : 1

Did You Know?

Crazy Credits

In Memoriam Brion James

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Connections

References Staying Alive (1983)

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Soundtracks

"Blood on the Moon"
(2000)
Composed by Derek Thompson
Production: Derek Thompson (as Hoodlum Priest) at Alpha 60

User Reviews

A real life changer

I was speechless after seeing this movie. I started watching it late on a weekday, knowing I would have to get up the next day but couldn't tear myself away! I had to know what would happen to the characters. The situation was starkly realized, and I could feel the slow dawning of awareness as the bus passengers see how futile their schedules and agendas are, survival quickly becomes the priority. I think to center criticism on the chances of getting lost like that and other plot details miss the point. The choice of "Lear" as a play to put on to distract from the terrible circumstances does not seem contrived, and this would not be the first movie to work the Shakespearean tragedy into its story, with, I thought an awful premonition of what was to come.