The Trotsky (2009) is a Canadian film that was written and directed by Jacob Tierney. It stars Jay Baruchel as Leon Bronstein, a teenager growing up in an affluent neighborhood in English-speaking Montreal. Leon believes that he is the reincarnation of the Russian revolutionary leader Leon Trotsky. (Bronstein was Trotsky's real name.)
After trying to organize a union in his father's factory, Leon is not only fired, but he now will have to enter public school, rather than the private school he has been attending. In his new school, Leon first encounters Mrs. Davis, who appears to be a dean. She's played by the late Domini Blythe, a brilliant classical actor. In this role, Blythe plays the most satanic dean in any high school anywhere. Henry Berkhoff, the most satanic school principal, is played by another great actor--Colm Feore.
With the two of them standing shoulder-to-shoulder, the students don't have a chance. At least, they didn't have a chance until Leon Bronstein arrives. Using skilled organizing techniques, Bronstein is able to turn the students into a significant presence, which the school cannot ignore. (Especially when the TV cameras arrive.)
There's also a ridiculous romance between Leon and an older woman. The less said about that, the better. Just ignore that, and some other false starts, and enjoy Bronstein's fearless actions, as he tries to give the students a sense of their own dignity, and an opportunity to make their school better.
We saw this movie on the large screen at the wonderful Dryden Theatre in the Eastman Museum in Rochester. It was shown as part of the excellent Rochester Labor Film Series. The movie will work equally well on the small screen
After trying to organize a union in his father's factory, Leon is not only fired, but he now will have to enter public school, rather than the private school he has been attending. In his new school, Leon first encounters Mrs. Davis, who appears to be a dean. She's played by the late Domini Blythe, a brilliant classical actor. In this role, Blythe plays the most satanic dean in any high school anywhere. Henry Berkhoff, the most satanic school principal, is played by another great actor--Colm Feore.
With the two of them standing shoulder-to-shoulder, the students don't have a chance. At least, they didn't have a chance until Leon Bronstein arrives. Using skilled organizing techniques, Bronstein is able to turn the students into a significant presence, which the school cannot ignore. (Especially when the TV cameras arrive.)
There's also a ridiculous romance between Leon and an older woman. The less said about that, the better. Just ignore that, and some other false starts, and enjoy Bronstein's fearless actions, as he tries to give the students a sense of their own dignity, and an opportunity to make their school better.
We saw this movie on the large screen at the wonderful Dryden Theatre in the Eastman Museum in Rochester. It was shown as part of the excellent Rochester Labor Film Series. The movie will work equally well on the small screen