

North Sudan, summer 1923. King Alfonso XIII of Spain captures an enormous African elephant, an apparently irrelevant act that, however, will be paramount to understand the Spain of 20th century; an animal from far lands that will become a symbol of the Second Spanish Republic, the communist movement and many other things; a royal hunting that marks the beginning of a bizarre story of jealousy, passion, political intrigues and taxidermy.

Juan Echanove
Pepe / Benito
Lead
Leonor Watling
María
José Antonio San Juan
Alfonso XIII

Nacho Vigalondo
Young Manuel
Guillermo García-Ramos
Young Jesús
Paco Jiménez Luna
Paco
Carmen Arbex
Prostitute
Elvira Heras
Dancer
“A staggering achievement of craft and ambition. Víctor García León's vision lands with breathtaking precision.”
“Every frame feels alive. El elefante del rey is the rare release that takes its audience seriously.”