The Trotsky (2009)

A Montreal high school student who believes he is the reincarnation of Leon Trotsky starts a revolution against apathy among his fellow students.

Director:

Jacob Tierney

Writer:

Jacob Tierney

Stars:

Liane Balaban, Jay Baruchel, Taylor Baruchel

9 wins & 7 nominations.

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Liane Balaban	...	Nadza
Jay Baruchel	...	Leon Bronstein
Taylor Baruchel	...	School Girl #2
Dan Beirne	...	Dan (as Daniel Beirne)
Domini Blythe	...	Mrs. Davis
Jonathan Bosco	...	Horne (Kid in Costume)
Hélène Bourgeois Leclerc	...	Female Cop
Justin Bradley	...	Jimmy
Geneviève Bujold	...	Denise Archambault
Anne-Marie Cadieux	...	Anna Bronstein
Jesse Camacho	...	Skip
Cecile Cristobal	...	TV Reporter Haiyan Zhang
Darren Curtis	...	Taxi Driver
Paul Doucet	...	Male Cop
Guy Dufaux	...	Homeless Person

Storyline

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.

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Plot Keywords:

school | student | high school | reincarnation | private school | 

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Taglines:

The revolution begins in high school

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Genres:

Comedy | Drama

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Certificate:

Not Rated

Details

Official Sites:

Official site

Country:

Canada

Language:

English French Russian Hebrew German

Release Date:

5 May 2010 (USA)

Also Known As:

High School Revolution

Filming Locations:

Montréal, Québec, Canada

Box Office

Budget:

CAD 6,400,000 (estimated)

Company Credits

Production Co:

Park Ex Pictures, The Harold Greenberg Fund

Technical Specs

Runtime:

120 min

Sound Mix:

Dolby SR

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

2.35 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

At one point in the film, Alexandra jokingly inquires if Leon intends to live out Trotsky's life 'icepick and all'. This is a reference to how Leon Trotsky died due to injuries sustained from a blow to his head from an icepick.

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Quotes

Alexandra Leith: I know, we're gonna honeymoon soon, I'm keeping my fingers crossed for the Nunavut.
Leon: Hey, you're lucky, you only have to get banished someplace arctic once, I have to do it all over again with my second wife.
Alexandra Leith: [shocked] Oh my god, what have I done.

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Crazy Credits

After credits a usually confused Leon is seen walking up to a bench and sitting on it in a jump suit.

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Connections

Spoofs Star Trek II: The Wrath of Khan (1982)

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Soundtracks

Montréal -40°C
Written by Thomas Augustin, Mathieu Cournoyer, Francis Mineau, Julien Mineau
Third Side Music Inc.
Performed by Malajube
Courtesy of Third Side Music o/b/o Dare to Care Records

User Reviews

Pretty good in general

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.