The Price of Kings

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The Price of Kings
Directed by Joanna Natasegara
Richard Symons
Written byJoanna Natasegara
Richard Symons
Produced byJoanna Natasegara
Richard Symons
Narrated by Helena Bonham Carter
CinematographyJake Corbett
Music byTom McFarland
Stuart Briner
Distributed bySpirit Level Film
LanguageEnglish

The Price of Kings is a projected twelve-part feature-length documentary film series directed by Joanna Natasegara and Richard Symons. [1] Each film focuses on the life and leadership of a specific world leader. [2] The first film in the series, Yasser Arafat, released in 2011. [3]

Contents

The films

The Price of Kings: Yasser Arafat

The first film in the series focuses on the legacy of the late President of Palestine, Yasser Arafat. Featuring extensive and personal interviews with the people who knew the leader best, most notably with his wife Suha Arafat, the film chronicles Arafat's life from his birth to his mysterious death in a Paris hospital in 2004. [4]

The Price of Kings: Yasser Arafat was released in January 2012.

The Price of Kings: Shimon Peres

The second film in the series focuses on the life of the ex-President of Israel, Shimon Peres. Based on interviews with President Peres, his family, friends, colleagues and opponents, the film reveals some of the major events which occurred during Shimon Peres' six decades as an Israeli politician. [5]

The Price of Kings: Shimon Peres was released in March 2012.

The Price of Kings: Oscar Arias

The third film in the series focuses on the story of the little-known ex-President of Costa Rica, Oscar Arias Sanchez. Centering on frank and illuminating conversations with Arias himself, his daughter, brother, former colleagues and critics, the film reveals how Arias gained immense popularity in his home country after bringing peace to Central America through the Esquipulas Peace Agreement and then squandered his success by running as President for a second term from 2006 to 2010. [6]

The Price of Kings: Oscar Arias was released in November 2012.

Film festivals

Yasser Arafat

Shimon Peres

Reception

Critical reception for the first film was mostly positive. [13] The Hollywood Reporter praised Yasser Arafat as being "[an] engrossingly edited, celebratory view of PLO leader Yasser Arafat’s personal sacrifices during his political career". [14]

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References

  1. "Interview: Richard Symons". The Jewish Chronicle. March 8, 2012. Retrieved 10 January 2013.
  2. "All about the art of compromise". Financial Times. 25 November 2011. Retrieved 10 January 2013.
  3. "Dubai's International Film Festival: From Asia, Africa to Arafat". Albawaba. Retrieved 10 January 2013.
  4. "Review: The Price Of Kings: Yasser Arafat". Total Film. Retrieved 10 January 2013.
  5. "Shimon Peres' choice: be Machiavelli or be naïve". MSN UK. Archived from the original on 28 April 2012. Retrieved 10 January 2013.
  6. "Documental "The Price of Kings" expone la vida política de Oscar Arias". Delefoco. Retrieved 10 January 2013.
  7. "The Price of Kings: Yasser Arafat". Copenhagen International Documentary Festival. Archived from the original on February 12, 2013. Retrieved 10 January 2013.
  8. "Documentary looks at life of Palestinian leader Arafat". Reuters. 12 December 2011. Archived from the original on February 16, 2013. Retrieved 10 January 2013.
  9. 1 2 "Closing Event". Biografilm Festival. Archived from the original on 12 February 2013. Retrieved 10 January 2013.
  10. "THE PRICE OF KINGS: YASSER ARAFAT". JFF. Retrieved 10 January 2013.
  11. "2012 Film Categories". LA Jewish Film Festival. Retrieved 10 January 2013.
  12. "THE PRICE OF KINGS: SHIMON PERES". jff. Retrieved 10 January 2013.
  13. "Review: The Price Of Kings – Yasser Arafat". Screen International. Retrieved 10 January 2013.
  14. "The Price of Kings – Yasser Arafat: Film Review". The Hollywood Reporter. 10 December 2011. Retrieved 10 January 2013.