Cast overview, first billed only: | |||
Liane Balaban | ... | Nadza | |
Jay Baruchel | ... | Leon Bronstein | |
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Taylor Baruchel | ... | School Girl #2 |
Dan Beirne | ... | Dan (as Daniel Beirne) | |
Domini Blythe | ... | Mrs. Davis | |
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Jonathan Bosco | ... | Horne (Kid in Costume) |
Hélène Bourgeois Leclerc | ... | Female Cop | |
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Justin Bradley | ... | Jimmy |
Geneviève Bujold | ... | Denise Archambault | |
Anne-Marie Cadieux | ... | Anna Bronstein | |
Jesse Camacho | ... | Skip | |
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Cecile Cristobal | ... | TV Reporter Haiyan Zhang |
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Darren Curtis | ... | Taxi Driver |
Paul Doucet | ... | Male Cop | |
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Guy Dufaux | ... | Homeless Person |
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. Written by Alliance Films
I enjoyed The Trotsky, most of it anyway. I liked the fact that it doesn't take its audience as complete illiterate and assumes that you would catch some of the historic references. I prefer that than having everything spelled out for me. Jay Baruchel is just creepy enough, without becoming really scary in his obsession with being the real Leon Trotsky. I was rather uncomfortable with the relationship with Alexandra; that was one of the drawbacks of the movie. I loved the portrayal of Montreal with the English and the French intermingling in conversation and everyday life - even if it's not at all the main point of the movie. My main critic would go to Geneviève Bujold, who plays a commissioner of the school board, or something like that. I don't think I've ever seen such overacting before. She was awful. I always heard people say how she was a great actress, well, I did not see that here. I could not stop thinking how bad she was every time she was opening her mouth. Even every gesture she was making was over the top. Anyways, she doesn't have a huge role, so it didn't really spoil the movie. All in all, I enjoyed it and I would see it again.