Tuesday, November 22, 2011 I TechNews

Quirky Québécois film meets comedy quota

By Ryan Kamphuis
A&E EDITOR

When you were in high school, what did
you take seriously? While most would answer
with anything from class to dating to getting out
of high school, there’s one person who would
say communist revolution. “The Trotsky” is
the tale of 17—year—old Leon Bronstein, a high
school student in Montreal who is convinced
that he is the living reincarnation of Bolshevik
revolutionary Leon Trotsky.

Directed and written by Jacob
Tierney, “The Trotsky” is a 2009 Canadian
comedy starring Jay Baruchel as Leon Bronstein.
Convinced that it is his duty to live the life of the
famous Russian, Leon has his entire life planned
out in front of him, including everything from
multiple exiles, meeting someone named
Vladimir Ulianov (who will later be changing
his last name to Lenin), marrying an Alexandra
that is 9 years his senior, and being assassinated.
And while he is only 17, he needs to start now
to be able to live up to his name. And start he
does, leading everything from hunger strikes to
coup d’états in the name of social justice.

The film is a high school comedy with
a twist. Like other high school comedies like
“Ferris Bueller’s Day Off” and “The Breakfast
Club,” the central theme of “The Trotsky” is
that of rebellion. Except in this case, instead of
rebellion manifesting itself in the skipping of
class or the flaunting of authority by not taking
detention seriously, “The Trotsky” manifests its
teenage rebellion through a refusal to accept
society’s status quo when it comes to students.
While there were many funny moments in the
film because of this, many of the jokes might fall
flat to most. The movie is chock full of subtle

jokes and references that will fly over most
people’s heads due to the fact that they make
references to everything from Trotsky’s life to
political philosophy to historical events.

The one truly excellent thing that
brings the entire film together is Jay Baruchel’s
performance as Leon Bronstein. Baruchel’s
performance is flawless, and he perfectly plays
the dedicated, awkward but well—meaning
individual that Leon is. Many scenes are saved
by the dedication that Baruchel shows to his
role — by the end of the movie you almost think
you are watching a documentary about a real
person, and that this character is not an actor.

One of the best parts of the whole
movie is the feeling that everything happening
in it could actually happen. As was said earlier,
the root of this film is teenage rebellion against
the apathy and boredom of high schoolers,
and the status quo treatment of these students
by administration and society. The things that
Leon and his comrades are fighting against are
the issues we all dealt with in high school and
hated. What Leon is working for is something
we all wanted to do: to rebel against what we
hate and work to make it better. The film is just
a crazy way of showing this base idea.

Overall, I would recommend seeing
“The Trotsky” if you’re looking for a laugh and
a trip back to your high school days. Not all the
jokes may make sense, and some of the movie
may seem downright crazy, but overall the
movie leaves you entertained and feeling good.
And for some, myself included, the film may be
inspirational — firing you up to stop accepting
the status quo, and work to make things better.
And any film that can make you laugh while
convincing you to go out and make things better
has got to be good!

   
 

 

RYAN KAMPHUIS ae@technewsiit.com 5

 

“3A7 BARUCHEL
delivers a breakouk performance.
The most genuine, Authentic, Legifimatelj funny "
Eeeu Movie since ‘Heatkers' or John Rushes moviesi
- Sun Media

 

    

“ ‘7‘“ V ‘
1m ge ourtesy 0fimdb.c0m

 

What’s on 2W 1W ' playlist?

iF'u-z: ‘3'

 

9:12 ftht

The Hot House Flowers - I‘m Sorry

The Afters - Beautiful Love

Gin Wigmore - Ohy My

Ima Robot - Greenback Boogie

Matt Costa - Mr. Pitiful

Rogue Wave - Lake Michigan

Shout Out Louds - Normandie

Spoon - Don‘t You Evah

Titus Andronicus - A More Perfect Union

Two Door Cinema Club - Something Good Can

Work

 

Email ae@technewsiit.com!

 

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