A Hologram for the King

About A Hologram for the King

A Hologram for the King, released in 2016, is an American comedy-drama film directed by Tom Tykwer and written by Tykwer and Dave Eggers, based on Egger's novel of the same name. It depicts the story of a washed-out corporate salesman who goes to Saudi Arabia to propose a business deal.

The Plot and Summary

In an attempt to recover from his economic downfall, Alan Clay, a middle-aged American businessman, travels to Saudi Arabia where he hopes to sell a state-of-the-art holographic teleconferencing system to the country's King. As he battles local customs and tries to navigate through communication issues, he finds himself on a journey of personal growth and self-discovery.

Making / Production

The movie is a fascinating marriage of Dave Eggers' thought-provoking novel and the distinct style of director Tom Tykwer. It was filmed on location in Morocco and Germany, with production taking place over several months in late 2014 and early 2015.

Actors

• Tom Hanks as Alan Clay: Hanks admirably captures the desperation, confusion, and humorous quirks of the down-on-his-luck businessman.
• Sarita Choudhury as Zahra: Choudhury offers a wonderfully nuanced performance, depicting the balance between her character's traditional values and her quiet defiance.
• Alexander Black as Yousef: Black brings a layer of comic relief to the movie, presenting his character's westernised approach with a sense of authenticity.

Trivia / Interesting Facts

• This is the second film in which Tom Hanks has played a character named 'Alan'. The first was "The 'burbs" (1989).
• The film reunites Tom Tykwer and Tom Hanks after their collaboration on the movie "Cloud Atlas" (2012).

Awards

The film was nominated for the 'German Film Awards' in the category of 'Outstanding Feature Film'.

Quotes

• "Sometimes you gotta change your scenery to change your life." - Alan Clay
• "I'm not letting you go. It's not you, it's me and it's Saudi fucking Arabia." - Zahra

Music and Soundtrack

• The score for the film was composed by Johnny Klimek and Tom Tykwer.
• "Once in a Lifetime" by Talking Heads is featured prominently in the film.