Late-626

The White King (2016)

Beautifully made dystopian first feature

This is a heartfelt and touching story of a boy growing up in an unnamed totalitarian state. (I'm not an expert on this but was reminded of Stalinist propaganda). He and his mother try to find his father after he's taken away (as a clear dissident), trying to enlist his grandfather (a patriot of the regime) and finally appealing to the regime itself. It's also a coming of age story as the boy's eyes are opened gradually to the state he's living in.

It's beautifully designed and shot and the boy and his mother (Agyness Deyn) give terrific performances. A first feature which has had time, love and attention poured into it and a lovely gem of a film - deserves to be widely seen.