"El Rey" tells the story of a "cocaine king" in Colombia in a time before Pablo Escobar (from the 60s to the middle 70s). This film has a taste of truth. It doesn't try to judge and describes the times and life of Pedro "El Rey". It shows how the cocaine traffic was in agreement with Colombian society at the time with the growing American involvement in Colombia. The film describes "el Rey" starting as a bar owner paying the rent for his business establishment, trying to find outlets to grow in his activity and becoming eventually the cocaine king in Colombia. As I've already said "El Rey" (unlike many American films) doesn't pass judgement, and there are no car chases, great shootouts or many other things so dear to the American movies. There's no tear-stained moralism or preaching. "El Rey" is able to simply tell a story which shows the life of a big cocaine trafficker, his connection to the time, and his hopes, loves, and dreams. This is a film that portrays human beings with their contradictions. It entertains and is able to open ours eyes to a reality many of us know only superficially.
