Farmer. Father. Monarch? “The King of North Sudan” chronicles one Virginia man’s brash quest to turn a desolate patch of African desert into his very own country – and get unspeakably rich in the process.
Produced by the talented trio of Danny McBride, David Gordon Green, and Jody Hill, “The King of North Sudan”’s subject, Jeremiah Heaton, seems to be pulled right out of one of their comedic HBO Series (“Eastbound & Down,” “Vice Principals,” “Righteous Gemstones”). Director Danny Abel follows the unique Jeremiah, a 45-year-old farmer from Virginia currently in the midst of trying to turn an unclaimed patch of land into his own kingdom in Bir Tawil, Sudan.
Bir Tawil is the final unclaimed territory on earth. Today it serves as the last human outpost before the expansive Nubian desert begins forming to the north. In June of 2014, Jeremiah ventured there. After receiving the all-clear from the Egyptian authorities, he completed a 14-hour expedition through treacherous mountains, making his way into Bir Tawil and arrogantly planting a flag. As composer Collin Hegna’s Spaghetti Western score strums along, Jeremiah breaks down the geopolitical history of the region. The British Empire drew a line through the middle of Egypt and Sudan, and the land was left unclaimed due to Egypt and Sudan not recognizing one another’s borders and claim to a valley. While many people consider Jeremiah an imperialist, he considers himself a pioneer. Employing the same twisted logic of past colonizers because the land is unclaimed, it is considered free real estate. Jeremiah states he “doesn’t see color” which is a convenient way to ignore the daily struggles people of color experience around the world.
After Jeremiah’s Facebook post, detailing his trek and flag went viral, Disney purchased his life rights for a potential adaptation. The Mickey Mouse company was particularly amused by Jeremiah’s self-proclaimed royal titles with his youngest daughter referring to herself as a princess. Full of intrigue, “The King of North Sudan” also briefly delves into the geopolitics of the African region. The US military runs operations through its Africom (United States Africa Command) with drones and bases covering the Continent. Heaton points out that China has become more involved in African affairs by building infrastructure and other humanitarian interventions. Jeremiah says this to his Chinese hosts while seeking two million dollars in funding from them. Jeremiah openly states he wants the land to be a tax haven under the guise of agricultural altruism. Willing to deal with anyone from shady military contractors to telecommunications and mining companies, Jeremiah seeks his kingdom, at others’ expense (As so many have done before him).
“The King of North Sudan” recently had its U.S. Premiere at the 2021 Austin Film Festival
