A King
Documentary
•
Documentary, Short Films, 14-Mar-2023
After 35 years as the official Elvis impersonator of Las Vegas, Jessie Garon confronts an uncertain future as his public persona begins to fade away. “A King,” directed by Ivan Olita, is a stylized documentary portrait on the sexuality, and loss of self, of an aging performer. With a sparkling facade, the film captures the escapism and allure of living like a king. But time has not stopped for Garon; as he reflects on getting older and the toll of shielding his private life from view, he faces up to newfound fears and dejection. Of late, the threat of a ban on unlicensed Elvis impersonators agitates his situation further. Filled to the brim with light, neon, and glittering suits, Olita’s film finds life in its juxtapositions. -KA. Director: Ivan Olita. A production by Bravò in association with Matte Films. Cast: Jesse Garon, Richard Nikoleit, Toni James, Jaydon Grice. Cinematographer: Andrea Gavazzi. Editor: Nate Katz, Ivan Olita. Producer: Justin Folger.
Up Next in Documentary
-
Deerwoods Deathtrap
Fifty years ago Jack and Betty were hit by a train and survived. In the unexpectedly comedic memoir documentary, “Deerwoods Deathtrap,” they recount the story to their son, filmmaker James P. Gannon. On a trip to New Jersey from their native Pennsylvania, with two young children and a mother in t...
-
Extremophiles
Extremophiles are organisms that exist when nothing else can survive. In this environmental documentary about pollution, director Leah Shore presents a slide show of lethal hot spots in Brooklyn as a duo in matching grey suits strike ominous poses. Beginning with the infamous Gowanus Canal, which...
-
What I Had to Leave Behind
In this stylized personal essay, a renter says goodbye to their apartment. “What I Had to Leave Behind,” directed by Sean David Christensen, is a lovely ode to moving out, built around a self-deprecating voiceover and jazzy score. Memories spring to mind about every corner of the apartment — the ...