MOVIE REVIEW

The epic and timeless tale of The King and I flopped in theaters in 1999 in the form of
Anna and the King, but it is actually a well-done success that just hasn't been seen by
widespread audiences.

Anna and The King

Anna and the King is a film that tells the life of Anna Leonowens, played by Jodie
Foster as a widow from England who gets a job as a private tutor for the children of Raja
Mongkut played by Chow Yun Fat in Siam. Anna invites her son Louis, played by Tom
Felton, to carry out his duties at the Palace of Siam. The mongkut king who acted arbitrarily
broke his promise, namely that Anna had to teach all of the king's children, totaling 68 people
and a son of the king's new concubine, Tuptim. Tuptim is the lover of an ordinary citizen who
was married to King Mongkut. Not only that, Anna was originally promised to be provided
with a place to live outside the palace territory, but she did not get this right. Anna also lives
in the palace with her child. Anna felt uncomfortable and difficult when she had to live in the
palace with all kinds of protocols and customs that were very different from her home
country. Conflict with the king and court officials was inevitable because of this difficulty
adjusting.

King Mongkut, who at that time was considered the incarnation of God, certainly had
extraordinary powers. He cannot be opposed, especially by women. But Anna as a woman
who is firm, smart and brave, has her own way to honor the king. Siam is a monarchical
country that believes that increasing numbers of children is the right way to be prepared for
war and fighting disease.

The differences in character and lifestyle between the king's children and Anna's children
were very contrasting at first. The first day of learning was colored by quarrels between the
two of them. Then the king's son was punished as a warning. The learning process on the
following day ran smoothly with the closeness of the king's son and Louis, Anna's son. Not
long after that, Anna was given a place to live outside the palace.

One day all the inhabitants of Siam were invited to have and celebrate a party with the
British. Annapun began teaching and training all residents of the Palace of Siam to do
everything in the party later. At first it looks difficult because the time provided is quite short.
But thanks to Anna's help and hard work everything is well prepared. The feast was very
clear about the cultural and character differences between the British aristocrats and all the
inhabitants of Siam. British aristocrats tend to be arrogant and the stronghold of the King of
Mongkut which still looks thick with its traditions.

On her way to becoming a teacher, Anna saw slavery in Siam which was running freely and
had become a culture in the palace environment. Apart from being a professional teaching
figure, Anna also has a mission so that women have the same position as men. This can be
seen in the punishment and arrest of Tuptim and his girlfriend, an ordinary citizen who is still
in contact through Anna's intermediary. Anna refused the punishment given to Tuptim and
her lover. But Anna couldn't do anything about it and finally Tuptim and her partner were
executed.

Hari still has to walk with regret for the death of Tuptim and his lover. On the other hand, the
learning between Anna and the king's children went well. Annapun gave a considerable
impact on life there, becoming more open and starting to look more familiar with each other.
The king's love for Anna began to grow. This was also accompanied by a dispute between
Siam and Kincaid's business partner. Not long after the news was heard, it turned out that a
war of treason was in sight. But to maintain a sense of peace in the Siamese people, Raja
Mongkut turned this news into good news. Then all the people had a party and King Mongkut
went with his troops and also Anna and her children to defend and fight the rebels. In this
battle, King Mongkut used traps and tricks in his resistance.

The end of the war was won by King Mongkut with the preparation of the king's trap and
Anna's trick using a trumpet as if the king and the British troops fought back. The king was
finally able to beat back the rebels.

Anna and the King - Movie Synopsis & Plot

English schoolteacher Anna Leonowens has done something that women of the Victorian age
simply never do: The young widow has traveled thousands of miles with her son to a land
that is largely unknown to the Western world. She arrives in Siam with adventure in her eyes
and a Siamese primer in her hand. Whatever awaits her in this strange new world, there is no
turning back.

Anna has been employed to educate the king's fifty-eight children. She knows very little of
King Mongkut, apart from the fact that his people revere him as a god. She brings with her an
'East vs. West' prejudice against the king, considering him to be uncivilized. She soon
realizes that her views are more than matched by the ruler's own preconceptions about the
West and particularly this impertinent Englishwoman.

But over time, Anna and the King share a growing connection. Anna discovers that Mongkut
is a true man of vision who is leading Siam to take its place among the nations of the modem
world. And the King recognizes that Anna has shined a light not only on him and his family,
but on Siam itself.
 The film's cast in Anna and the King

1. Jodie Foster as Anna Leonowens

2. Chow Yun-Fat as King Mongkut
3. Bai Ling as Tuptim
4. Tom Felton as Louis T. Leonowens
5. Randall Duk Kim as General Alak
6. Kay Siu Lim as Prince Chaofa, Brother of King Mongkut
7. Melissa Campbell as Princess Fa-Ying
8. Deanna Yusoff as Queen Thiang
9. Geoffrey Palmer as Lord John Bradley
10. Ann Firbank as Lady Bradley
11. Bill Stewart as Mycroft Kincaid, East India Trading Co.
12. Sean Ghazi as Khun Phra Balat
13. Syed Alwi as The Kralahome, Prime Minister
14. Ramli Hassan as King Chulalongkorn
15. Keith Chin as Prince Chulalongkorn
16. Alif Silpachai as brother of Chulalongkorn
17. Kenneth Tsang as Justice Phya Phrom
18. Shantini Venugopal as caregiver
19. Goh Yi Wai as Mongkut's daughter
20. Harith Iskander as Nikorn

Anna and the King adalah film Amerika Serikat tahun 1999 yang diadaptasi berdasarkan
buku Anna and the King of Siam. Film ini disutradarai oleh Andy Tennant dan dibintangi
oleh Jodie Foster dan Chow Yun Fat. Wikipedia

Tanggal rilis: 6 Desember 1999 (Malaysia)

Sutradara: Andy Tennant

Lagu unggulan: How Can I Not Love You

Cerita oleh: Anna Leonowens, Margaret Landon