''The Price of Kings'' is a projected twelve-part feature-length documentary film series directed by

Joanna Natasegara Joanna Natasegara is a British film director and producer. She produced '' Virunga'' (2014) and '' The White Helmets'' (2016), for which she received nominations for Academy Award in the categories of Best Documentary Feature and Best Documen ...

and Richard Symons. Each film focuses on the life and leadership of a specific world leader. The first film in the series, ''Yasser Arafat'', released in 2011.

The films

''The Price of Kings: Yasser Arafat''

The first film in the series focuses on the legacy of the late President of

Palestine __NOTOC__ Palestine may refer to: * State of Palestine, a state in Western Asia * Palestine (region), a geographic region in Western Asia * Palestinian territories, territories occupied by Israel since 1967, namely the West Bank (including East ...

, Yasser Arafat. Featuring extensive and personal interviews with the people who knew the leader best, most notably with his wife

Suha Arafat Suha Arafat ( ar, سهى عرفات; born Suha Daoud Tawil ( ar, سهى داود الطويل) on 17 July 1963) is the widow of former Palestinian Authority President Yasser Arafat. Early life and education Suha was born in Jerusalem on 17 July ...

, the film chronicles Arafat's life from his birth to his mysterious death in a Paris hospital in 2004. 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 Israel (; he, יִשְׂרָאֵל, ; ar, إِسْرَائِيل, ), officially the State of Israel ( he, מְדִינַת יִשְׂרָאֵל, label=none, translit=Medīnat Yīsrāʾēl; ), is a country in Western Asia. It is situated ...

Shimon Peres Shimon Peres (; he, שמעון פרס ; born Szymon Perski; 2 August 1923 – 28 September 2016) was an Israeli politician who served as the eighth prime minister of Israel from 1984 to 1986 and from 1995 to 1996 and as the ninth president of ...

. 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. 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 Costa Rica (, ; ; literally "Rich Coast"), officially the Republic of Costa Rica ( es, República de Costa Rica), is a country in the Central American region of North America, bordered by Nicaragua to the north, the Caribbean Sea to the no ...

Oscar Arias Sanchez Oscar, OSCAR, or The Oscar may refer to: People * Oscar (given name), an Irish- and English-language name also used in other languages; the article includes the names Oskar, Oskari, Oszkár, Óscar, and other forms. * Oscar (Irish mythology) ...

. 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 The Esquipulas Nicaraguan Peace Agreement, also known as the Central American Peace Accords, was a peace initiative in the mid-1980s to settle the military conflicts that had plagued Central America for many years, and in some cases (notably Gu ...

and then squandered his success by running as President for a second term from 2006 to 2010. The Price of Kings: Oscar Arias was released in November 2012.

Film festivals

Yasser Arafat

*''

Copenhagen International Documentary Festival CPH:DOX is the official name for the Copenhagen International Documentary Film Festival, an international documentary film festival established in 2003 and held annually in Copenhagen, Denmark. CPH:DOX has since grown to become one of the largest ...

'' (November 2011) *'' Dubai International Film Festival'' (December 2011) *''New Horizon Film Festival'' (September 2012) *''Biografilm International Festival of Lives'' *''Jerusalem International Film Festival''

Shimon Peres

*''Los Angeles Jewish Film Festival'' *''Biografilm International Festival of Lives'' *''Jerusalem International Film Festival''

Reception

Critical reception for the first film was mostly positive. ''

The Hollywood Reporter ''The Hollywood Reporter'' (''THR'') is an American digital and print magazine which focuses on the Cinema of the United States, Hollywood film industry, film, television, and entertainment industries. It was founded in 1930 as a daily trade pap ...

'' praised ''Yasser Arafat'' as being " nengrossingly edited, celebratory view of PLO leader Yasser Arafat’s personal sacrifices during his political career".

References

External links

Official website
* * * {{DEFAULTSORT:Price Of Kings, The 2011 documentary films 2011 films Documentary film series Documentary films about politicians Yasser Arafat Shimon Peres