About the director

Julien Colonna, born on 6th of January 1982, studied social sciences and screenwriting in Paris and created, apart from advertising films, internationally awarded short films. One is Confession (2015) with Anne Parillaud. In 2020/21, he worked on the the mini series Gloria about a lawyer who has to readjust after the disappearance of her husband. The Kingdom is Colonnas feature film debut.

Press reviews

“Compared with the “Godfather” films (this decidedly anti-glamorous portrait is practically the antithesis of Coppola’s approach), “The Kingdom” reframes things from the vantage of the Sofia Coppola character. It’s like “The Sopranos,” as seen through Meadow’s eyes. And though we’re all familiar with the lesson that the cost of vengeance is a never-ending circle of violence, Colonna’s retelling lands like a bullet in the head.” (Peter Debruge for Variety)

“The gradual transformation of an innocent child into an accessory to violence, forced to become increasingly pragmatic and cold along the way, is far from a fresh hook this far into the history of crime movies. But Colonna’s film, co-written with Jeanne Herry, is a riveting, moving take on this narrative. So crucial to its success is that central father and daughter duo, with casting for the film reportedly having taken place over eight months. “The Kingdom” is the first screen credit for both Saveriu Santucci and Ghjuvanna Benedetti, non-professional actors like much of the main cast, and their magnetic work here is the kind to make you want them in as many films as possible going forward.” (Josh Slater-Williams for indiewire.com)