Milwaukee Film Festival 2016: My King

By Devvon Eubanks

From director Maïwenn and Trésor Productions, “My King” is a tumultuous French romance of affection, lust, happiness, pain, infidelity, and struggling to understand what love truly is. Tony Jézéquel (Emmanuelle Bercot) is a middle-aged woman who is in a rehabilitation center after suffering a terrible skiing accident. While recuperating, she reflects on her past relationship with Georgio Milevski (Vincent Cassel). From their first meeting and sexual relations to their marriage and various states of anger, mistrust, laughter, sorrow, the birth and maturation of their son, Simbad, “My King” is a tale that speaks on the intricacies of an everyday relationship. Cassel and Bercot make an amazing on-screen couple and the viewer can empathize with these characters through the many conditions they face. Tony is a flawed, pained woman who is head over heels in love, but once she sees the man that Georgio truly is, she breaks down mentally and loses control of the pleasurable feelings she once had. Meanwhile, Georgio is a stoic and courteous gentleman who slowly becomes controlling, calculating, and callous, demanding more out of Tony and her love for him, even when he does wrong. With fluid scene changes between the past and present, and the flawless pace and passionate feelings of the characters and supporting cast, the on-screen action feels natural in its execution and keeps viewers engaged throughout until the end credits. Overall, Maïwenn’s “My King” is an emotional, fervent romance that shows the madness of love in its purest form.

Grade: A