A King and His Movie
Encyclopedia
A King and His Movie is a 1986
Argentine
comedy drama film
, directed by Carlos Sorín
, and written by Sorín and Jorge Goldenberg
. The movie features Ulises Dumont
, Julio Chávez
, among others.
), an obsessed filmmaker who attempts to make an epic account of the French adventurer Orelie-Antoine de Tounens, who in 19th century assumed the title of King of Patagonia
and Araucania.
Vass meets major obstacles at every turn during the film. First, word leaks out to the Argentine media that Vass is finally making his film and he has to dodge them as he executes his preproduction plans.
The big problem is finding the perfect actor to portray the king. When all of the professional auditions are rejected, Vass turns to the street. Unfortunately, he chooses a hippie type, who mistakes Vass for the cops and flees. Still, Vass catches up and convinces him to play the part.
Finally, Vass assembles cast and crew and prepares to go southern Argentina to shoot the film. However, his financial backer withdraws with the film's money and flees abroad. Now Vass has no money to pay his staff.
The actors immediately abandon the project and once again Vass hits the streets to find his actors.
Finally, the group makes it to the location for shooting. By this time they are so broke that they cannot afford lodging and end up staying at an orphanage until an actor makes the wrong advances towards a youngster and gets them kicked out.
The crew, not wanting to sleep in tents, decide to leave. The cast joins them. Despite this final crushing blow, Vass will not abandon the film and portrays the king himself, using mannequins for extras to create some of the films most haunting and surreal scenes.
The film was screened at various film festivals, including; the Toronto Film Festival, Canada
; the Venice Film Festival
, Italy
; the Havana Film Festival
, Cuba
; and others.
1986 in film
-Events:*April 12 - Actor Morgan Mason marries The Go-Go's Belinda Carlisle.*April 26 - Actor Arnold Schwarzenegger marries television journalist Maria Shriver.*May - Actress Heather Locklear marries Mötley Crüe drummer Tommy Lee....
Argentine
Argentina
Argentina , officially the Argentine Republic , is the second largest country in South America by land area, after Brazil. It is constituted as a federation of 23 provinces and an autonomous city, Buenos Aires...
comedy drama film
Film
A film, also called a movie or motion picture, is a series of still or moving images. It is produced by recording photographic images with cameras, or by creating images using animation techniques or visual effects...
, directed by Carlos Sorín
Carlos Sorín
Carlos Sorín is a film director, screenplay writer, cinematographer, and film producer. He works mainly in the cinema of Argentina....
, and written by Sorín and Jorge Goldenberg
Jorge Goldenberg
Jorge Goldenberg Hachero is a prolific screenwriter from Argentina.Jorge Goldenberg was born in San Martín, Buenos Aires, Argentina in 1941.He studied film direction at the Film Institute of the National University of the Litoral in Santa Fe....
. The movie features Ulises Dumont
Ulises Dumont
Ulises Dumont was a prolific Argentine film actor, credited with over 80 appearances in film and countless others in theatre and television from 1964 until his death in 2008.-Life and work:...
, Julio Chávez
Julio Chávez
Julio Chávez is a well-known Argentine film and television actor.He was born Julio Hirsch in Buenos Aires, and received his first film role in 1973...
, among others.
Plot
The film tells the story of David Vass (Julio ChávezJulio Chávez
Julio Chávez is a well-known Argentine film and television actor.He was born Julio Hirsch in Buenos Aires, and received his first film role in 1973...
), an obsessed filmmaker who attempts to make an epic account of the French adventurer Orelie-Antoine de Tounens, who in 19th century assumed the title of King of Patagonia
Patagonia
Patagonia is a region located in Argentina and Chile, integrating the southernmost section of the Andes mountains to the southwest towards the Pacific ocean and from the east of the cordillera to the valleys it follows south through Colorado River towards Carmen de Patagones in the Atlantic Ocean...
and Araucania.
Vass meets major obstacles at every turn during the film. First, word leaks out to the Argentine media that Vass is finally making his film and he has to dodge them as he executes his preproduction plans.
The big problem is finding the perfect actor to portray the king. When all of the professional auditions are rejected, Vass turns to the street. Unfortunately, he chooses a hippie type, who mistakes Vass for the cops and flees. Still, Vass catches up and convinces him to play the part.
Finally, Vass assembles cast and crew and prepares to go southern Argentina to shoot the film. However, his financial backer withdraws with the film's money and flees abroad. Now Vass has no money to pay his staff.
The actors immediately abandon the project and once again Vass hits the streets to find his actors.
Finally, the group makes it to the location for shooting. By this time they are so broke that they cannot afford lodging and end up staying at an orphanage until an actor makes the wrong advances towards a youngster and gets them kicked out.
The crew, not wanting to sleep in tents, decide to leave. The cast joins them. Despite this final crushing blow, Vass will not abandon the film and portrays the king himself, using mannequins for extras to create some of the films most haunting and surreal scenes.
Cast
- Ulises DumontUlises DumontUlises Dumont was a prolific Argentine film actor, credited with over 80 appearances in film and countless others in theatre and television from 1964 until his death in 2008.-Life and work:...
as Arturo - Julio ChávezJulio ChávezJulio Chávez is a well-known Argentine film and television actor.He was born Julio Hirsch in Buenos Aires, and received his first film role in 1973...
as David Vass - Villanueva Cosse as Desfontaines
- Roxana Berco as Lucia
- Ana María Giunta as Madama
- David Llewelyn as Lachaisse
- Miguel Dedovich as Oso
- Marilia Paranhos as Lulu
- Ricardo Hamlin as Maxi
- Rubén Patagonia as Quillapan
- César García as Bonanno
Distribution
The film premiered in Argentina on August 28, 1986.The film was screened at various film festivals, including; the Toronto Film Festival, Canada
Canada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
; the Venice Film Festival
Venice Film Festival
The Venice International Film Festival is the oldest international film festival in the world. Founded by Count Giuseppe Volpi in 1932 as the "Esposizione Internazionale d'Arte Cinematografica", the festival has since taken place every year in late August or early September on the island of the...
, Italy
Italy
Italy , officially the Italian Republic languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Italy's official name is as follows:;;;;;;;;), is a unitary parliamentary republic in South-Central Europe. To the north it borders France, Switzerland, Austria and...
; the Havana Film Festival
Havana Film Festival
The Havana Film Festival is a Cuban festival that focuses on the promotion of Spanish-language filmmakers. It is also known in Spanish as Festival Internacional del Nuevo Cine Latinoamericano de La Habana, and in English as Festival of New Latinamerican Cinema of La Havana.The festival takes place...
, Cuba
Cuba
The Republic of Cuba is an island nation in the Caribbean. The nation of Cuba consists of the main island of Cuba, the Isla de la Juventud, and several archipelagos. Havana is the largest city in Cuba and the country's capital. Santiago de Cuba is the second largest city...
; and others.
Awards
Wins- Venice Film FestivalVenice Film FestivalThe Venice International Film Festival is the oldest international film festival in the world. Founded by Count Giuseppe Volpi in 1932 as the "Esposizione Internazionale d'Arte Cinematografica", the festival has since taken place every year in late August or early September on the island of the...
: Silver Lion Best First Work, Carlos Sorin; 1986. - Havana Film FestivalHavana Film FestivalThe Havana Film Festival is a Cuban festival that focuses on the promotion of Spanish-language filmmakers. It is also known in Spanish as Festival Internacional del Nuevo Cine Latinoamericano de La Habana, and in English as Festival of New Latinamerican Cinema of La Havana.The festival takes place...
: Grand Coral, First Prize, Carlos Sorin; 1987. - Goya AwardsGoya AwardsThe Goya Awards, known in Spanish as los Premios Goya, are Spain's main national film awards, considered by many in Spain, and internationally, to be the Spanish equivalent of the American Academy Awards....
: Goya Best Spanish Language Foreign Film, Carlos Sorin, Argentina; 1987. - Argentine Film Critics Association Awards: Silver Condor; Best First Film, Carlos Sorin; Best New Actor, Miguel Dedovich; Best Original Screenplay, Carlos Sorin and Jorge Goldenberg; Best Supporting Actress, Villanueva Cosse; Best Supporting Actress, Ana María Giunta; 1987.
External links
- La película del rey at the cinenacional.comCinenacional.comCinenacional.com is a web portal and web-based database about Argentine cinema.The site provides a vast array of information, including: films, television programs, directors, actors, cinematographers, film editors, production designers, and other production professions in Argentina...
- La película del rey film clip at You Tube