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Le royaume
The Kingdom
Produced by Antoine Lafon and Hugo Sélignac
Written by Julien Colonna and Jeanne Herry
Editing: Albertine Lastera and Yann Malcor
Music: Audrey Ismaël
Release Date: 13 November 2024
Aspect Ratio: 2.00 : 1
Color: Color
The impressive debut of French film director Julien Colonna weaves well-worn elements of crime family thriller and coming-of-age drama in a refreshingly original tapestry set in 1995 Corsica. Ghjuvanna Benedetti plays 15-year-old Lesia whose summer is interrupted when she's extracted from her home life and taken to spend time with her crime boss father, Pierre-Paul (played by Saveriu Santucci). I was unfamiliar with both of these actors but, man, are they ever captivating. Benedetti reminded me of Lola Créton (Goodbye First Love, Something in the Air, Bastards) when she suddenly popped on in transfixing lead performances where her expressive but controlled face conveyed vastly more than dialogue ever could. Her and Colonna create a complex portrait of a teenage girl dropped into the confusing world of a loving father who is also major figure in a violent underground war that is coming to a head. The film explores their paternal relationship in nuanced ways that keep surprising us.