Part culture clash, part character study, A Hologram for the King is a complex film built upon a very thin premise. The premise is that an Information Technology salesman (Tom Hanks) journeys to Saudi Arabia to persuade its ruler to purchase a state-of-the-art hologram system for business meetings and whatever other functions might be desired. Based on the novel by Dave Eggers, this film is evidently faithful to the book and all of its layers, for it is a surprisingly dense film.
It excels as a character study of Alan Clay (Hanks) a down-but-not-quite-out techie salesman whose boss has no faith in him, whose ex-wife has nothing good to say about him, whose daughter is disappointed in him and who seems to be manifesting failure within his own body. Hanks is excellent as the drowning salesman, trying to tread water until he can reach the shallows and wade upon a welcoming shore once more. Hanks’ excellence is matched by Alexander Black as Yousef, an unlikely friend and ally, who takes Clay under his wing to show him a Saudi Arabia few outsiders see, and Sarita Choudhury, a doctor who helps Clay heal in more ways than one.
It is primarily a culture clash scenario, comparing and contrasting the differences between the western world and an eastern attitude that is at once strict, and yet relaxed. Alan Clay is the primary fish out of water in this story, but every American in the country is confused by their new surroundings. And while the story presents the Saudi ways as often careless and rude, it is harder on the Americans, and much harder on the world of business. There is a dark undertone that truly condemns how big business is handled on the world stage, both in America and in Saudi Arabia.
Tom Tykwer’s film is an intriguing blend of business, character and exploration, as Alan Clay tries to find a way to keep his life together while halfway around the world. Thanks to the sympathetic yet enigmatic performance by Hanks, the film succeeds to an admirable degree. Tykwer takes a simple premise and imbues the story with convincing, complex adult human issues, dilemmas and, perhaps, solutions. ☆ ☆ ☆. 7 May 2016.