President Tabor (film)
| President Tabor | |
|---|---|
 The film's international release poster in Jackian | |
| Uachtarán Tabor | |
| Directed by | David Killborugh |
| Produced by | David Killborugh, Ana Spector |
| Written by | David Killborugh Simon Conner-Barry |
| Starring | Andrew Klein Rudy Beth Larry O'Job David Killborugh |
| Cinematography | Ian Davis |
Production company | |
| Distributed by | Tri Films |
Release date | December 1, 2021 |
Running time | 107 minutes |
| Country | Gjorka |
| Language | Gjorkan |
| Budget | ₱41.6 million pón |
| Box office | ₱200 million pón |
President Tabor (Gjorkan: Uachtarán Tabor) is a 2021 political comedy film written and direct by David Killborugh. The film depicts an alternate future where Gjorkan far-right politician Andrew Tabor wins the 2021 Gjorkan presidential election and his resulting presidency thereafter. The film stars Andrew Klein as Tabor, along with Rudy Beth, Larry O'Job, Dennis Bacon.
The film, released on November 1, 2021, was a critical success with an average rating of 4 stars. The movie grossed ₱200 million pón, well over its budget of ₱41.6 million. The film was harshly criticized by Tabor and members of the National Social Party (PSN). Prior to the film's release, Tabor launched a lawsuit against Tri Films, arguing defamation. The lawsuit was dismissed in January 2022.
Contents
Plot
The film opens with Tabor joyfully preparing his concession speech for the presidential election as he is debating wether to blame the loss on Khoroshiyans or Ajakanistan. Suddenly, one of his advisor's enters exclaiming that a recount occurred and a number of ballots were found giving Tabor 8,000,000 more votes, enough to win the presidential election. Tabor initially laughs the advisor off assuming it is a joke, but as Tabor checks Twitter he realizes the advisor was telling the truth. Tabor then begins to have a panic attack as more and more of his senior advisors rush into the room to congratulate him on his victory. He rushes out of the room pushing his vice presidential nominee Sam Kilsborg to the floor and escapes into a nearby empty balcony. On the balcony Tabor collapses into a full on panic attack about becoming President, but eventually is able to collect himself. The opening scene ends with Tabor stepping back into the room before immediately passing out.
The next scene cuts to Tabor's inauguration day as he prepares himself to give his inauguration speech to a roaring crowd. Tabor enters the stage confidently and begins opening into a rage filled rant about Khoroshiyans and Communists and how they cost him the election. In the middle of the speech he is interrupted by a staffer who turns over the speech, revealing Tabor had been reading his concession speech he prepared earlier rather than his inauguration speech. Tabor, embarrassed, continues on with his real inauguration speech in a much lower tone. The scene then cuts to Tabor's first day in office.
Tabor's staffers and advisors sit around his desk waiting for Tabor to sign his first presidential decree. Tabor nervously sits and stalls the signing of the decree, attempting to hide the fact from his advisors there is nothing written in the decree. A back and forth ensues with Tabor's advisors attempting to take the decree from Tabor while Tabor desperately attempts to keep the decree. Eventually the decree is ripped in half and the empty papers fly everywhere. Tabor dismisses everyone in the room except for Vice President Kilsborg and First Lady Enya Tabor.
Tabor asks Kilsborg and Enya for ideas for what to do, as the three begin to brainstorm. Kilsborg proposes outlandish ideas such as "banning the import of foreign fish" or "make socialist birthday parties illegal" as well proposing to invade Ajakanistan several times. Enya is presented as out of touch, forgetting numerous times during the scene wether Tabor is "pro-fascism or anti-fascism" and proposes several ideas in direct contrast with Tabor's campaign such as "ban coal use". Eventually Enya says "maybe we could take away the rights of Gjorkans", which Tabor initially dismisses saying she confused Gjorkans and Khoroshiyans again. However, he has an epiphany from her idea, and decides to coup the Gjorkan government.
Tabor calls a meeting with the leaders of the military to gauge their interest in participating in the self-coup. However, the commanders believe the meeting has been called by Tabor to fire them. Tabor initially begins the meeting cautiously, but as the generals continuously agree to his increasingly outlandish proposals, Tabor grows more ambitious. Eventually, he asks the commanders if they will support a coup d'état attempt. Fearful of being fired, the generals agree to compromise and simply ignore any coup attempt by Tabor. As Tabor leaves feeling confident, the camera focuses on General Senan Kennedy, who is clearly not happy with his fellow commander's decision.
The plot advances quickly with a montage of Tabor meeting with PSN's various paramilitaries and Teague Cullen of Blue Dawn to organize a march on the National Assembly Building. Eventually the day of the march comes, and Tabor gives a speech to a roaring crowd. His speech is heavily critical of the "incumbent president" with Tabor calling into question his leadership and resolve. Despite the fact Tabor is criticizing himself the crowd roars on, obviously oblivious to the contradiction. After finishing his speech, Tabor leads the crowd to march on the National Assembly. The scene cuts to the National Assembly building as lawmakers are frantically scrambling to deal with the current crisis. Forward Gjorka supports leaving the building, while Gjorka United supports staying and hearing the protestors out. They continuously take votes on the two proposals, however neither secure a majority leaving the National Assembly in limbo.
Tabor and the mob draw closer to the National Assembly building and just as they are about reach the building, a Naroteicneo Type 112 turns around the corner along with hundreds of soldiers. General Kennedy from the top of Type 112 orders Tabor and the crowd to stand down. Tabor is caught off guard by the General, but orders the crowd to charge the soldiers. A singular member of the crowd charges at the soldiers, only to be gunned down as soon as he gets close. This causes the rest of the crowd to immediately disperse in fear, leaving Tabor alone. Tabor attempts to flee the scene, but is shot by a soldier before he can get far. As Tabor lies there dying, he remarks "at least I was a martyr" and the scene fades to black. However, the scene re-appears as a medic gives Tabor an adrenaline shot reviving him, before he is put in handcuffs and hauled away.
The movie ends with General Kennedy with an armed guard arriving at the National Assembly building to applause from the National Assembly members. In the penultimate line of the movie, Majority Leader Edward Flannagan thanks Kennedy by saying "you have protected this country and ended Tabor's terrible coup. You are a hero." to which Kennedy responds "Oh I wouldn't say the Coup is over just yet". Kennedy's armed guard then point their guns at the National Assembly members, just before the screen fades to black for good.
Cast
- Andrew Klein as President Andrew Tabor
- Dennis Bacon as General Senan Kennedy
- Rudy Beth as First Lady Enya Tabor
- Larry O'Job as Vice President Sam Kilsborg
- Dan Baker as Chief Defense Officer Cole Powers
- Simon Gray as Majority Leader Edward Flannagan
- Tripp Wolfe as Supreme Marshal Odhrán Doolan
- Wade McDermott as Supreme Admiral Theo Maguire
- Steve Byrne as Supreme Marshal Darragh Gilmore
- Will Terrell as Commander Frankie O'Hannon
- Arthur Ryan as Teague Cullen
- Lacie Kathrow as Advisor Brenda Myers
- Collin Maguire as Advisor Alex Spur
Production
David Killborugh began pitching the idea of President Tabor as early as 2016 in the wake of 2016 Gjorkan presidential election and Tabor's rise to popularity. He initially began working on the project at Dundalk Pictures in 2018, but was dropped after threats by Tabor to sue the company. Tri Films greenlit the film with Killborugh as director in 2020 as the 2021 election began heating up.
Despite a limited budget, Killborugh was able to secure award winning actor Andrew Klein to star in the movie along with other popular actors such as Dennis Bacon, Rudy Beth, and Larry O'Job. The script was finished in October of 2020, and production began in December. Tabor launched a lawsuit against the film in February of 2021 causing production to halt several times for legal proceedings. Production had to be halted twice after filming locations were discovered by members of PSN and protestors sent to disrupt filming. This caused a majority of filming to be done in studio. Additionally, various elements of the story had to continuously be changed as the presidential election progressed. Most prominently changing Simon Gray's character from an unnamed legislator to Edward Flannagan. Filming officially ended on July 3, and the last reshoot was done on September 30.
Reception
Box office
The Film was a box office success grossing ₱200 million pón (₵62.5 millioncredits) against a budget of ₱41.6 million for a net positive of ₱158.4 million.
The film released only in Gjorkan theaters on 1 December 2021, competing against The New Life of Fleck Scott. It debuted internationally when it was released online on 22 December, and debuted online domestically on 1 January 2023. The film grossed ₱84 million pón in it's opening weekend, finishing first ahead of The New Life of Fleck Scott. The film's second weekend saw a drop-off grossing ₱51 million, third for the weekend. Following it's international release online, the film grossed roughly ₱10 million from foreign markets.
Critical reception
On the review aggregation website Public Square holds an approval rating of 91% with an average rating of 8.5/10 with the consensus review being "An rare Gjorkan political comedy film, President Tabor combines great jokes, hilarious characters and great writing and allows us to laugh at the end of a frighting political year."
In the Gjorka Times, Peter Cornet gave the film 4.5/5 stars, writing "the film doesn't take itself seriously, which is perhaps why it fits so well. It manages to top the insanity of the actual political scene, while also offering clever commentary on Gjorka's ruling class. This film is by no means a masterpiece, but it's definitely not trying to be. Even if it doesn't win any awards, people will be talking about this film for years to come. Which I suspect is the last thing the film's namesake wants to occur." Sally Martin of Nomakoa Now writes in her 9.5/10 review that "President Tabor is perhaps the greatest political comedy of all time. The plot advances at breakneck speed, but also gives time for jokes to be appreciated. Not the best film of the year, but maybe my favorite."
Anthony Orr of the Éire Journal gave the film 2.5/5 stars saying "the film delivers a few good jokes here and there, but overall the one sided nature of it's political commentary will leave viewers bored by the third act. Overall, a decent comedy dragged down by it's politics." In his 1/5 star review of the film, Eric Norman of The Elkton writes "epitome of modern comedy, nothing but left wing politics masquerading as jokes. The film depicts Tabor as an insane dictator detached from reality and anyone close to him as idiots. There is nothing funny here. I could literally feel the socialist film writers chuckling at every little jab. This is cinematic waterboarding."
| Year | Award | Category | Subject | Result |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2022 | Gjorkan Film Awards | Best Comedy | President Tabor | Nominated |
| Best Lead Actor | Andrew Klein | Nominated | ||
| 2022 | Gjorkan Press Film and Television Awards | Best Comedy Film | President Tabor | Won |
| Best Screenplay | President Tabor | Nominated | ||
| Best Lead Actor in a Comedy | Andrew Klein | Won | ||
| Best Supporting Actor in a Comedy | Dennis Bacon | Won | ||
| Larry O'Job | Nominated |
Political response
The film was heavily criticized by Andrew Tabor and the National Social party on numerous occasions. Tabor and PSN continuously harassed the films production from when it was first produced by Dundalk Pictures, to launching multiple lawsuits while the film was in production, and sending protestors to the movie's filming locations.
On release day, protestors organized by PSN showed up to hundreds of movie theaters showing the film attempting to bar viewing. This action was criticized by the director David Killborugh as a "last desperate attempt for control by a shallow man, we haven't been intimidated before and we certainly won't be now." David Tyrone of the Gjorka City Daily Mail argued in a article about Tabor's attempt to disrupt the films release that his actions actually backfired and "brought the film into a national spotlight it might not have had."
On 7 February 2023, Orlando Pareja Palau, the president of El Salvador, made a tweet praising the film, calling for Tri Films to make a sequel. Tabor proceeded to engage in an argument with Pareja Palau over Twitter, questioning if the PSN should continue its membership in the International Patriotic League (LPI).[1]
See also
References
- ↑ Gómez Alvarado, José Luís (21 March 2023). O'Downey, Ross (ed.). "El Presidente Salvadoreño Quiere ser un Rey: ¿El Fin de la'Fachada Democrática en El Salvador?" [Salvadoran President Wants to be King: The End of the Democratic Façade in El Salvador?]. El Faro (in Creeperian). Liberty City, Paleocacher. Retrieved 21 March 2023.CS1 maint: unrecognized language (link)
