The Trotsky

The Trotsky

Theatrical release poster
Directed by Jacob Tierney
Produced by Kevin Tierney
Written by Jacob Tierney
Starring Jay Baruchel
Emily Hampshire
Colm Feore
Saul Rubinek
Michael Murphy
Music by Malajube
Cinematography Guy Dufaux
Editing by Arthur Tarnowski
Studio Park Ex Pictures
Distributed by Alliance Films
Release date(s) 11 September 2009 (2009-09-11) (TIFF)
14 May 2010 (2010-05-14) (Canada)
Running time 120 minutes
Country Canada
Language English
Budget C$6.4 million

The Trotsky is a 2009 Canadian comedy film directed by Jacob Tierney.

Contents

Plot

Montreal West high school student Leon Bronstein (Jay Baruchel) believes that he is the reborn incarnation of Marxist/Bolshevik leader Leon Trotsky. Shortly after he starts to work in his family's clothing factory, he attempts to unionize the workplace with such actions as a hunger strike. He is pulled from his upper-class private school by his father (Saul Rubinek) and sent to the public school system. There, he continues his quest to live out Trotsky's activism, as he is pitted against the strong-willed principal Mr. Berkhoff (Colm Feore). Meanwhile, he seeks romance with older graduate student Alexandra (Emily Hampshire).[1][2]

Production

Shooting for the film began in Montreal on 27 August 2008.[3]

Release

The film was first previewed at the Toronto International Film Festival 11 September 2009.[1] In the United States, it was screened at the 2010 Tribeca Film Festival.[4] Its general Canadian release was on 14 May 2010.[5]

Reception

The Toronto Star gave The Trotsky a positive review, particularly of the cast.[2] Another positive review from Montreal's The Gazette noted the "inspired, often-dangerously-funny screenplay" of the "too-talented" Tierney, likening the film to Ferris Bueller's Day Off.[6]

Web review aggregator Rotten Tomatoes assessed the film at 79% on its Tomatometer with an average rating of 6.9/10, based on 9 reviews.[7]

References

  1. ^ a b "The Trotsky". Toronto International Film Festival. September 2009. http://tiff.net/filmsandschedules/films/trotsky. Retrieved 18 May 2010. 
  2. ^ a b Barnard, Linda (13 May 2010). "The Trotsky: Revolution for the teenaged masses". The Star (Toronto). http://www.thestar.com/entertainment/movies/article/809252--the-trotsky-revolution-for-the-teenaged-masses. Retrieved 18 May 2010. 
  3. ^ Kelly, Brendan (26 August 2008). "The Tierney revolution is coming!". Montreal: The Gazette. http://communities.canada.com/montrealgazette/blogs/showbiz/archive/2008/08/26/the-tierney-revolution-is-coming.aspx. Retrieved 18 May 2010. 
  4. ^ "The Trotsky makes U.S. debut at Tribeca". CBC News. 15 March 2010. http://www.cbc.ca/arts/film/story/2010/03/15/tribeca-lineup.html. Retrieved 18 May 2010. 
  5. ^ Farquharson, Vanessa (11 May 2010). "The Trotsky's Jay Baruchel: On moviemaking, microphones and mom tattoos". National Post. http://www.nationalpost.com/arts/story.html?id=3014493. Retrieved 18 May 2010. 
  6. ^ Kelly, Brendan (14 May 2010). "Review: The Trotsky". http://www.montrealgazette.com/entertainment/movie-guide/Review+Trotsky/3025445/story.html. Retrieved 18 May 2010. 
  7. ^ "The Trotsky (2010)". http://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/10012356-trotsky/. Retrieved 23 July 2010. 

External links