The White King (2016)

Djata is a care-free 12-year-old growing up in a brutal dictatorship shut off from the outside world. When the government imprisons his father, Peter, and Djata and his mother Hannah are ... See full summary »

Directors:

Alex Helfrecht, Jörg Tittel

Writers:

György Dragomán (novel), Alex Helfrecht (adaptation)

Stars:

Fiona Shaw, Ólafur Darri Ólafsson, Olivia Williams

11 nominations.

Cast

Credited cast:
Fiona Shaw	...	Kathrin Fitz
Ólafur Darri Ólafsson	...	Pickaxe
Olivia Williams	...	Sophia (voice)
Greta Scacchi	...	General Meade
Ross Partridge	...	Peter
Jonathan Pryce	...	Colonel Fitz
Agyness Deyn	...	Hannah
Clare-Hope Ashitey	...	Gaby
Derek de Lint	...	Silver Hair
Matthew Postlethwaite	...	Remus Frunza
Björn Freiberg	...	Security Guard
Declan Hannigan	...	Young Soldier
Jeffrey Postlethwaite	...	Romulus Frunza
Vilmos Heim	...	Frunza Boy
Louis Suc	...	Bruno

Storyline

Djata is a care-free 12-year-old growing up in a brutal dictatorship shut off from the outside world. When the government imprisons his father, Peter, and Djata and his mother Hannah are labeled traitors, the boy will not rest until he sees his father again.

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Plot Keywords:

dystopia | boy | army camp | twins | f rated | 

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Genres:

Drama | Sci-Fi

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Certificate:

Not Rated

Details

Official Sites:

Official Blog Official Facebook

Country:

UK Germany Sweden Hungary

Language:

English

Release Date:

5 December 2017 (USA)

Also Known As:

A fehér király

Filming Locations:

Hungary

Box Office

Budget:

£2,000,000 (estimated)

Company Credits

Production Co:

Oiffy, Proton Cinema

Technical Specs

Runtime:

89 min

Color:

Color

Did You Know?

Trivia

Olivia Williams has lent her voice to Sophia, one of the world's most advanced humanoid robots created by Hong Kong based Hanson Robotics, a company founded by Dr. David Hanson, who previous worked as a sculptor and technical consultant at Disney Imagineering.

User Reviews

The hopes and dreams of a young boy living under a totalitarian regime

The opening credits of The White King are some of the best I've ever seen. A brilliant animation hints at the world we're about to discover. Thankfully the film itself, does them total justice.

It's 1984, it's Nazi Germany, it's north Korea. The society we enter is ruled by a brutal, fascist regime that tries to eke all joy from its people. What sets this film apart is the fact that it's seen through the eyes of a boy whose hope and humanity have not completely been shattered by those who dictate his future. Without revealing too much, the film explores the decisions he has to make and the relationships he keeps, when a close member of his family is accused of speaking out against the regime.

It's an acting feast with a sterling debut from Lorenzo Allchurch who plays the main character alongside actors du jour Agnes Deyn and Ólafur Darri Ólafsson, with film royalty Jonathan Pryce and Greta Scacci.

The film is beautifully directed. Country landscapes are bathed in the dreamy sunlight of a late summer's afternoon, in total contrast with the dark, oppressive ways of the White King dictatorship.

It's the future and it's also the present; scarily reminiscent of the current political climate. But not without total hope. Go and see it!