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Mike Cahill (Director)
"I don't know if I dreamed it or heard it on the news . . . naked Chinese men washing up on the beaches of California . . . boat people with their clothes in plastic bags. . . ." This dialogue sampling captures nicely how this movie toys with its authence. Mr. Cahill keeps us off balance - never quite knowing what is real versus what is not real, what is crazy versus what is sane.
King of California was not a widely viewed movie. It debuted at the 2007 Sundance Film Festival followed by limited appearances in theaters. But, while not having wide appeal, it captures something we think worth considering for use in a psychiatric nursing course. Here's why.
The Plot
King of California is a story about a father and daughter, each searching for the American dream in their own way. Michael Douglas stars as Charlie, a musician recently released from a mental health facility (suicide attempt), and Evan Rachel Wood as his 16-year-old daughter Miranda. The story is told through Miranda's eyes.
When her father is placed in a mental health facility she slips through the cracks; social services, foster care, and even her mother fail to notice she is alone. Her life seems to be one of routine and familiarity until Charlie is released from the mental health facility. At one point in the story Miranda reveals that her father has been diagnosed with bipolar disorder, which serves to color the authence's view of Charlie's behaviors and encourage us to interpret unusual behaviors through this new lens. During the drive home Charlie talks about naked Chinese men and other superficial topics. Later he tells her that he has discovered information regarding a lost treasure while surfing the Internet in the hospital. He believes that he can find the lost treasure of Father Juan Torres. Miranda is skeptical at first but is eventually drawn into the search by her desire to have a relationship with her father. Their search takes them to the middle of the local Costco store where Charlie plans to dig through the cement floor to reach the treasure.
The Father
Charlie's persona is one of "craziness." His hair is long and unkempt;...