Without the King (2008): Summary
- Release Date:April 25th, 2008
- Director:Michael Skolnik
- Starring:King Mswati III
- Studio:First Run Features
- Genre:Documentary
- Rating:
- Runtime:1 hour 24 minutes
Swaziland is Africa's last absolute monarchy and a nation at a dangerous crossroads. Wedged between South Africa and Mozambique, it is a tiny kingdom of enormous inequality and the world's highest HIV infection rate (43%). The people demand democracy and an end to starvation, while the king lives a life of luxury and rules by decree. With unprecedented access, we meet the royal family: Princess Sikhanyiso, a teenage rapper and eldest child; Queen LaMbikiza, a headstrong outsider and first of 12 wives; and King Mswati III, a distant figure out of touch with his home and country. Filmmaker Michael Skolnik captures the birth of a nation's revolution, and the dawning awareness of a young Swazi princess to the tragic backdrop to her lavish lifestyle.
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