• The King Is Alive (2001)

    Stranded in the heat of a barren African desert, eleven bus-passengers shelter in the remnants of an abandoned town. As rescue grows more remote by the day and anxiety deepens, an idea emerges: why not stage a play. However the choice of King Lear only manages to plunge this disparate group of travelers into turmoil as they struggle to overcome both nature's wrath and their own morality.

The King Is Alive
52
metacriticBased on 25 Critics
62
Based on 6 Users

Release Date: May 11th, 2001

DVD Release Date: November 19th, 2002

R |1 hr 48 min

Plot Summary

Stranded in the heat of a barren African desert, eleven bus-passengers shelter in the remnants of an abandoned town. As rescue grows more remote by the day and anxiety deepens, an idea emerges: why not stage a play. However the choice of King Lear only manages to plunge this disparate group of travelers into turmoil as they struggle to overcome both nature's wrath and their own morality.

Cast: Miles Anderson, Romane Bohringer, David Bradley, David Calder, Bruce Davison, Brion James, Peter Kubheka, Vusi Kunene

Director: Kristian Levring

Genres: Drama

Production Co: Good Machine, Newmarket Capital Group, Nordic Film & TV Fund

Distributors: IFC Films

Keywords: Survival , Mystery , Death , Emotional , Fall , Rivalry , 2000s , Escape , Intense ,

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Ratings & Reviews

  • 75
    Desmond RyanPhiladelphia Inquirer

    Fascinating and strangely involving piece.

  • 40
    Joe MorgensternWall Street Journal

    A deeper problem in The King Is Alive is an almost total absence of spontaneity.

  • 75
    Roger EbertChicago Sun-Times

    It doesn't make the slightest effort to cater to conventional appetites. But the more you appreciate what they're trying to do, the more you like it. show more

See all critic reviews on metacritic.com