Oregon Premiere

Director Eugene Jarecki takes Elvis Presley’s 1963 Rolls Royce on a sprawling musical road trip that explores the failed promise of the American dream. Ordinary citizens and celebrities ride along, singing or talking about what Elvis meant to them, framed by eloquent commentary from Van Jones, Chuck D, and Canadian Mike Myers, who witnessed the phenomenon but weren’t truly a part of it. Scenes of 20th century America’s political landscape are interspersed with archival footage showing Elvis’ rise from humble beginnings to his increasing isolation, depression, and mortifying death. The King shows us a country boy who lost his authenticity and became a king and a country that lost her democracy and became an empire. Also featuring Alec Baldwin, Emmylou Harris, Greil Marcus, and Ethan Hawke.