Without the King

{{Short description|2007 documentary film by Michael Skolnik}}

{{Use American English|date=January 2025}}

{{Use mdy dates|date=August 2024}}

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{{Infobox film

|name = Without the King

|image = WithoutTheKing.jpg

|caption =

|director = Michael Skolnik

|producer = Michael Skolnik

|writer = Michael Skolnik

|starring = Mswati III
Princess Sikhanyiso
Queen LaMbikiza

|music =

|cinematography = James Adolphus

|editing = Martha Skolnik

|distributor =

|released =

|runtime = 83 minutes

|language = English
siSwati

|budget =

}}

Without the King is a 2007 documentary film by Michael Skolnik, an American filmmaker. It follows problems of Swaziland, a landlocked country in southern Africa.{{cite news | url=https://www.nytimes.com/2008/09/06/world/africa/06king.html?pagewanted=all | work=The New York Times | first=Barry | last=Bearak | title=In Destitute Swaziland, Leader Lives Royally | date=2008-09-06}}{{cite magazine | url=https://variety.com/2008/film/reviews/without-the-king-1200523027/ | title=Without the King | date=April 23, 2008 | last=Scheib | first=Ronnie | work=Variety}}

The film features Mswati III, the king of Swaziland, and his daughter and self claimed rapper Princess Sikhanyiso. It shows the angry populace and the country's problems such as a high HIV prevalence, comparing it with the daily life of Mswati III, Africa's last absolute monarch.{{cite news | url=https://www.nytimes.com/2008/04/25/movies/25king.html | title=An extravagant ruler of a modest kingdom | type=Review | newspaper=The New York Times | access-date=2013-11-27 | first=Jeannette | last=Catsoulis | date=2008-04-25}}{{cite magazine | last=Bennett | first=Bruce | date=April 25, 2008 | title=Swaziland's King of Pain | work=The New York Sun | url=https://www.nysun.com/article/arts-swazilands-king-of-pain | access-date=August 20, 2024}}

The film won a Special Jury Prize from the Best International Feature Documentary award jury at the 2007 Hot Docs Canadian International Documentary Festival."Hot Docs film festival breaks attendance record with 68,000 taking in films". Canadian Press, April 30, 2007.