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

In this movie, Paul Dano plays the older brother of Pell James' character. James is actually seven years older than Dano in real life.

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Goofs

When Twla Sandow gets up to leave during David's sermon on Paul, she is carrying her purse in her left hand. When she exits the auditorium she is not carrying a purse at all, but whenever she leaves the building and walks into traffic she is carrying the purse again.

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Soundtracks

Put a Little Love in It
Written by Ike Reilly
Silent Six Publishing
Performed by Ike Reilly
Produced by Mickey Petralia

User Reviews

"Dense, remarkable and poignant..."

English screenwriter and director James Marsh's feature film debut which he co-wrote with actor, producer and screenwriter Milo Addica, was screened in the Un Certain Regard section at the 58th Cannes International Film Festival in 2005, was shot on location in Austin, Texas in the United States and is a UK-USA co-production which was produced by producers Milo Addica and James Wilson. It tells the story about a man named Elvis who after having served three years in the US Navy comes to Corpus Christi, Texas where he contacts a pastor named David Sandow who runs a church and who lives with his wife Twyla and their son Paul and daughter Malerie. David listens to what Elvis has to say and makes it clear that he doesn't want anything to do with him, but after Elvis leaves him he locates his daughter and seduces her.

Distinctly and precisely directed by British filmmaker James Marsh, this finely paced fictional tale which is narrated from multiple viewpoints draws a moving and unsettling portrayal of an enigmatic man's attempt to establish a relationship with a father who never acknowledged him and who is more devoted to leading his children on the right path to becoming good Christians. While notable for it's naturalistic and atmospheric milieu depictions, sterling cinematography by Danish cinematographer Eigil Bryld and use of colors, this character-driven and narrative-driven story depicts two interrelated studies of character and contains a timely score by composer Max Avery Lichtenstein.

This poignantly atmospheric and somewhat romantic psychological thriller about an unwanted son who has some unfinished business to set straight with his father and a new-born Christian man whom is getting caught up by his unholy past, is impelled and reinforced by it's cogent narrative structure, subtle character development, multifaceted characters, uncanny acting performance by Mexican actor and director Gael Garcia Bernal and the fine acting performances by American actor William Hurt, American actress Pell James and American actor Paul Dano. A dense, remarkable and poignant directorial debut.