The King Is Alive (2000)

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

Director:

Kristian Levring (uncredited)

Writers:

William Shakespeare (with: inspiration from "King Lear"), Kristian Levring

Stars:

Miles Anderson, Romane Bohringer, David Bradley

3 wins & 4 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 | tragedy | bus | stranded | village | 

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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:

Denmark Sweden USA

Language:

English French

Release Date:

11 May 2001 (USA)

Also Known As:

Dogme 4

Filming Locations:

Sperrgebiet National Park, Namibia

Box Office

Opening Weekend USA:

$17,929, 13 May 2001, Limited Release

Gross USA:

$103,505, 12 August 2001

Company Credits

Production Co:

Newmarket Capital Group,Good Machine,Zentropa Entertainments

Technical Specs

Runtime:

105 min (TV) 105 min (DVD)

Sound Mix:

Dolby

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.33 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

This is the fourth film to be made according to the Dogme 95 rules. The Dogme 95 was founded by Lars von Trier, Thomas Vinterberg, Søren Kragh-Jacobsen and Kristian Levring.

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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

Dogme is Theatre

I really like this film. I'd come sense that many people dislike the phenomenon Dogme, especially this one. When I first heard about the plot and the story I thought it sounded too trivial, but I must say, this film is so much more than the frame. The ability to make people this cruel, and making us believe it, is fantastic, it's like watching Dogville or different Second War films. That's why Dogme is so fantastic. It's the acting which is in focus, not special effects and speed. Dogme gives the actors more freedom to develop their characters (like they do in theater). This tragic story, makes us questioning the humanity of the general human mind, and makes our ideals crack - just like the story of King Lear. I love this film.