The King (2005)

A troubled man, recently discharged from the Navy, goes to Corpus Christi, Texas, in search of the father he's never met.

Director:

James Marsh

Writers:

Milo Addica, James Marsh

Stars:

Gael García Bernal, William Hurt, Laura Harring

1 win & 2 nominations.

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Gael García Bernal	...	Elvis
Derek Alvarado	...	Scoot
E. Matthew Buckley	...	Deck Officer (as Matthew Buckley)
Monica Peña	...	Brothel Manager (as Monica Pena)
Veronica Bernal	...	Elvis's Girl
Billy Joe Martinez	...	Mexican Salesman
Mohammad Ahmed	...	Mr. Chopra
Pell James	...	Malerie
Sally Allen	...	PA
Paul Dano	...	Paul Sandow
Laura Harring	...	Twyla
William Hurt	...	David
Roger Kunshick	...	Young Man with Flower
Ike Reilly	...	Rum Jungle Singer
Milo Addica	...	Bruno

Storyline

A motiveless malignancy? Elvis leaves the Navy and heads for Texas where he contacts his father, whom he's never met, the pastor at a Christian community church. Pastor Dave tells Elvis to stay away and, without telling his family that Elvis is his son from a pre-conversion liaison, tells them to have nothing to do with him. But Elvis has already connected with Malerie, the pastor's 16-year old daughter. Elvis embarks on the seduction of Malerie, while Dave examines his conscience and comes to a new conclusion. Can anyone get right with the Lord? Does the Lord hear?

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Plot Keywords:

female nudity | incest | man orgasms inside a woman | sex outdoors | half brother half sister incest | 

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Taglines:

The devil made me do it.

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Genres:

Drama | Thriller

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Motion Picture Rating (MPAA)

Rated R for strong sexuality involving a teen, some violence and language

Details

Country:

USA UK

Language:

English

Release Date:

19 May 2006 (UK)

Also Known As:

A király

Filming Locations:

Austin, Texas, USA

Box Office

Opening Weekend USA:

$8,927, 21 May 2006, Limited Release

Gross USA:

$281,326, 20 August 2006

Company Credits

Production Co:

ContentFilm, FilmFour, Edward R. Pressman Film

Technical Specs

Runtime:

105 min

Sound Mix:

Dolby Digital

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

2.35 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

James Marsh did not know the real age of the actress Pell James, who was playing 17-year-old Malerie Sandow, was until the end of the shoot, when she gave him a Thank You card revealing her true age. Marsh said that it was better that he didn't know as it would have proved a distraction.

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Goofs

The boom mic is visible When Paul confronts Elvis at Elvis' residence. The boom mic drops into frame for a moment whilst the camera is on Paul.

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Soundtracks

(Hey Won't You Play) Another Somebody Done Somebody Wrong Song
(1975)
Written by Chips Moman and Larry Butler
Sony/ATV Songs LLC d/b/a Tree Publishing Co.
Performed by B.J. Thomas (as BJ Thomas)
Courtesy of Geffen Records Under license from Universal Music Enterprises

User Reviews

A valuable little number

This film has gained a bit of stick from advance audiences, and the writers faced some hostile questioning following the screening I attended at the London Film Festival. I am frankly bemused as to why. I feel that, at worst, this is a solid and compelling indie flick and, at best, it has some important and lasting points to make about American identity, the nature of sin and the power of faith. My personal opinion is that many of those who see it are offended by either the film's refusal to judge the evil of it's main protagonist (played ever-perfectly by Gael Garcia Bernal), the portrayal of Latino as killer, the perceived failure to criticise the tee-total, creationist excesses of the Bible Belt, or a combination of the above. After all, southern-style Christianity is about as popular as Nazism right now among the arty set. I would prefer to view the film as what it is - an open-ended tragedy refusing to answer its own questions for the audience. I have thought of it frequently in the days since.