The White King

This was a visually a stunning film about a charmed Dystopian world filmed on location I think in Hungary. Uncomfortable to watch through the innocent boys' eyes as he realizes all is not as it seems..... Very good acting from young newcomer and all the cast - some terrifying twins like something out of Mad Max. Jonathan Pryce always hits this characters spot on. Agyness Deyn very natural. Strangely topical in our current climate in 2017... Who really knows what is what and of course, a child sees things differently. Never read the book, which clearly has undertones of 1984 and other classics.A great first film from a new producing/writing/directing team.

source: The White King

This movie is simply put amazing. In a near future dystopian society could look like. This movie has been put on my list of the movies to see in 2017. Independent cinema it it's best. Djata a 12 year old boy from a lower class family that are labeled as traitors after his father is put in prison. Djata caught in the middle between his mother and his grand parents on his fathers side he must try to find a way to see his father again.

I am always a fan of any film that portrays a bleak future or alternative, and this film provides. Telling the story of a boy whose Dad is taken away for being a 'traitor' may seem a slight cliché, but this does not follow that predictable path. Through showing the story through the pov of the child, you see glimpses of different threads that hint at other sub-stories, which then linger on the mind longer than if they were explained and told in full. A very thoughtful film, with some great cinematography showing off stunning locations and def worth watching. The ending should make anyone think long-after, unless you are the lazy sort who wants it all wrapped up nicely for you.

Ten Stars. My wife's parents grew up in one of the socialist paradises, Bulgaria, and they recommend this film as the most incisive depiction of what goes on when the people hand over more and more control of the economy, and with it, education and with that, people's lives, to a government. I do want to comment on one reviewer here who said a scene was copied from George Orwell. Please read Christoper Hitchens' "Why Orwell Matters." Orwell included an actual brainwashing exercise in Lenin's socialist USSR. The white King is not copying Orwell, but rather including in the story a common enough abuse in socialist countries. See this film, and understand why the largest purveyors of violence have always been governments, and especially those claiming to be looking after the social welfare.

I love dystopian films and therefore I really enjoy this film, yes as some critics mentioned there are a few set pieces / stories that aren't fully explained (The robot or cave scene for example) but the viewer needs to take this as a part of the overall world the film is set in. Why is the state depraving his citizen of wealth or technology? what happen to people that rebel, how to survive? what is freedom? all these questions are viewed from the young main protagonist that is delivering a really good performance. A film that makes you think is always a good thing, a film that doesn't have an happy ending is also always better...

This film is exquisite! Dystopia through the eyes of a child and the effect it has on him directly. The film moved me. The acting was spot on. The story was mature. AND the cinematography was vivid and lush. It also made my skin crawl as a citizen of a future dystopia=USA. The characters (and thoughtful ending) are what really resonate. Obviously this is for anyone who loves/likes the Hunger Games but this is smarter in many ways and more subtle...and more ambiguous...it the right way. This film makes me continue to love Jonathan Pryce very much. BUT Lorenzo Allchurch as Djata is a true discovery. He simmers and shines in this. His acting is superb and I could see him as the star of many Angry Young Man films in the future. Strong work by the Directors all around.

This was a visually a stunning film about a charmed Dystopian world filmed on location I think in Hungary. Uncomfortable to watch through the innocent boys' eyes as he realizes all is not as it seems..... Very good acting from young newcomer and all the cast - some terrifying twins like something out of Mad Max. Jonathan Pryce always hits this characters spot on. Agyness Deyn very natural. Strangely topical in our current climate in 2017... Who really knows what is what and of course, a child sees things differently. Never read the book, which clearly has undertones of 1984 and other classics.A great first film from a new producing/writing/directing team.

Potential. But I think it failed to convert from the book into a film. The backdrop with violent kids just rampaging, and no one paying attention to that, to the ending that offered nothing. I have no idea what the film was wanting to achieve. I think they wanted to make this a triple series but maybe realised it was just weak material and gave up. either that or the editor is owed his or her $500 fee and withheld the last 20 minutes of the film. Watch it or not it is one of those that won't make a difference. Sad really, had a lot of potential in there. I think you could have gone to 20 random people in the street and they could have made that 50% better

The White King last night at Edinburgh's Film Festival offered its viewers a satisfyingly tense ride from its opening animated graphics to its tantalising ending. The film's subtle use of sometimes opposed and sometimes complimentary cinematic genres contributes to the viewers'engagement. The realism, fantasy, animation and science fiction combine forces to interrogate the choices made by young and old as they struggle or cave into the intransigent demands of a totalitarian state. An impressive all star cast for the Directors' first feature film includes Jonathan Pryce, Agyness Dean, Fiona Shaw, Olafur Darri Olafsson and Gretta Scacci and they offer a tremendous boost for the central performance for promising young actor Lorenzo Allchurch. Pryce used the Q&A session afterwards to highlight how the film'm themes resonate with the concerns of the Brexit debate, imploring the audience to vote 'Remain'!