The Trotsky
2010 · Directed by Jacob Tierney
Original language: English
- comedy
The story
Leon Bronstein is not your average Montreal West high school student. For one thing, none of his peers can claim to be the reincarnation of early 20th century Soviet iconoclast and Red Army hero, Leon Trotsky. When his father sends Leon to public school as punishment for starting a hunger strike at Papa's clothing factory, Leon quickly lends new meaning to the term 'student union', determined as he is to live out his pre-ordained destiny to the fullest and change the world.
What it’s like
Bright, talky Montreal streets in flat daylight, a restless handheld camera that jumps into the frame and out again, and a wry narrator who speaks straight to the viewer, so the film feels like a loud, confiding friend rather than a polished drama. The vibe is sardonic and warm, with an underdog's sense of mischief running through school corridors, family dinners and a snowy Canadian winter. Its pace is brisk and chatty, with comic set pieces stacking up quickly and the emotional beats landing in quieter pauses. Its central figure is a stubbornly self-certain teenager who treats his grand ideas with total seriousness, slowly learning that conviction and loneliness can be the same thing. Intensity is low: plenty of profanity, teenage sexual talk and awkward romantic scenes, a few tense confrontations, but no gore and little real violence. It suits a rainy weekend, a laugh-out-loud rewatch, or anyone who wants a coming-of-age comedy with a political streak and an acidic sense of humour. It is for people who like their satire sharp, their teenagers articulate and their tone unapologetically odd.
More films like The Trotsky
Closest in mood, pacing and theme. Tell us why you loved The Trotskyand we’ll explain which ones fit you.
