SummaryWinner of the Special Jury Prize at the Hot Docs International Documentary Festival, this acclaimed film tells an astonishing story of Africa’s last absolute monarchy, the Kingdom of Swaziland. King Mswati III, a distant figure out of touch with his home and country, rules by decree and lives a life of luxury together with his 12 wives, while his... Read More
Directed By:Michael Skolnik
Without the King
Metascore
Mixed or Average
55
User score
Available after 4 ratings
tbd
My Score
Drag or tap to give a rating
Hover and click to give a rating
Metascore
Mixed or Average
55
43% Positive
3 Reviews
3 Reviews
57% Mixed
4 Reviews
4 Reviews
0% Negative
0 Reviews
0 Reviews
70
The film, fluidly shot by James Adolphus, remains deeply sensitive to the complexities of a culture whose attachment to monarchy contravenes its best interests. This dilemma is gradually becoming clear to Princess Sikhanyiso, the oldest of the king's 22 children and a student in California. Intelligent, articulate, caring and strong-willed, she could be her country's best hope.
63
Intelligent but incomplete-feeling documentary.
63
By far the film's most interesting subject is the king's eldest daughter, 18-year-old Princess Sikhanyiso, who likes to be known as Pashu. She's a self-styled rapper who goes to a Catholic college in California and acts like the spoiled rich kid that she is.
60
A cut above the average Quad-bound video agit-prop doc, Michael Skolnik's Without the King succeeds mostly through negative virtues.
50
A curious mixture of banality and revelation.
50
With Swaziland providing this mother lode of material, helmer Michael Skolnik extracts only the most pedestrian of films.
40
It is a shame the film doesn't cast a wider net into deeper political waters – the outrage is barely scratched in this production.
User score
Available after 4 ratings
tbd
100% Positive
1 Rating
1 Rating
0% Mixed
0 Ratings
0 Ratings
0% Negative
0 Ratings
0 Ratings
Apr 4, 2020
9
Without the King is a documentary film about the situation surrounding the suppression of democracy in Swaziland (the last African country to maintain the monarchy). It is possibly one of the most engaging and nuanced documentaries I’ve ever seen. Talking not just to the suppressed people, but giving the royal family ample time to explain their motives and rationale. Themes of culture, suppression, freedom, love and privilege are all explored in depth. The fact that their is no narrator or presenter may be a negative for some viewers, but it is all part of the unbiased picture that this film paints. Also one of the best endings I’ve seen in a documentary.
Production Company:
- Red Envelope Entertainment
- Soze Productions
Release Date:Apr 25, 2008
Duration:1 h 23 m
Awards
Hot Docs Canadian International Documentary Festival
• 1 Win & 1 Nomination
