Hal King

Beautifully written, beautifully shot, beautifully performed, Hal King is a magnificent film. An adaptation of William Shakespeare's Henry IV and V plays, Hal King blends R&B, jazz, hip hop, gospel, and even a bit of Classical opera recitative to tell the story of a young man who only finds his purpose upon the death of the father he spent his adult life rejecting.

Tyrik Ballard gives a breathtaking performance as Hal, matched by fellow newcomer Sharae Moultrie as Kat French, the daughter of Hal's father's enemy. Their love story plays against a compelling backdrop of racial politics (with an alderman's race standing in for the Hundred Years' War). In support are powerful performances by Ryan Shaw, Tony McLendon, Dion Davis, Eric Roberson, Sophia Nicole Stevens, and Darien Dean.