THE WHITE KING

NORTH AMERICAN PREMIERE THE WHITE KING is set in a strange dystopian future that resembles 1940s Nazi Germany—but with high-tech surveillance on every corner. Referring to their country as “the homeland,” the citizens display a disturbing amount of nationalism. Of course, whether or not they believe the propaganda is irrelevant, any resistance is met with severe punishment in this dictatorship. The reality of this is all too clear for 12-year-old Djata, whose father has been hauled off to prison for being a traitor. He and his mother are constantly ridiculed by their community and harassed by soldiers who patrol the streets. Djata’s grandparents are well-respected, his grandfather being a celebrated military vet. Despite their connections, they can’t seem to free their son from imprisonment—though it’s not clear they want to, considering his opposing political views. Forced to mature quickly, Djata must rise to the occasion to save his father. Can this brave young boy and his mother outsmart a murderous regime? Blending sci-fi, action, and historical fiction, this vibrant film is a powerful coming-of-age tale. —E.F.