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The Trotsky

  • 2009
  • Not Rated
  • 1h 53m
IMDb RATING
6.7/10
6.5K
YOUR RATING
The Trotsky (2009)
Trailer for The Trotsky
Play trailer2:23
3 Videos
14 Photos
ComedyDrama

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

  • Director
    • Jacob Tierney
  • Writer
    • Jacob Tierney
  • Stars
    • Liane Balaban
    • Jay Baruchel
    • Taylor Baruchel
  • See production info at IMDbPro
  • IMDb RATING
    6.7/10
    6.5K
    YOUR RATING
    • Director
      • Jacob Tierney
    • Writer
      • Jacob Tierney
    • Stars
      • Liane Balaban
      • Jay Baruchel
      • Taylor Baruchel
    • 23User reviews
    • 27Critic reviews
    • 59Metascore
  • See production info at IMDbPro
    • Awards
      • 9 wins & 8 nominations total

    Videos3

    The Trotsky
    Trailer 2:23
    The Trotsky
    The Trotsky
    Clip 1:24
    The Trotsky
    The Trotsky
    Clip 1:24
    The Trotsky
    The Trotsky
    Clip 1:02
    The Trotsky

    Photos13

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    Top cast45

    Edit
    Liane Balaban
    Liane Balaban
    • Nadza
    Jay Baruchel
    Jay Baruchel
    • Leon Bronstein
    Taylor Baruchel
    • School Girl #2
    Dan Beirne
    Dan Beirne
    • Dan
    • (as Daniel Beirne)
    Domini Blythe
    Domini Blythe
    • Mrs. Davis
    Jonathan Bosco
    • Horne (Kid in Costume)
    Hélène Bourgeois Leclerc
    Hélène Bourgeois Leclerc
    • Female Cop
    Justin Bradley
    • Jimmy
    Geneviève Bujold
    Geneviève Bujold
    • Denise Archambault
    Anne-Marie Cadieux
    Anne-Marie Cadieux
    • Anna Bronstein
    Jesse Camacho
    Jesse Camacho
    • Skip
    Cecile Cristobal
    • TV Reporter Haiyan Zhang
    Darren Curtis
    • Taxi Driver
    Paul Doucet
    Paul Doucet
    • Male Cop
    Guy Dufaux
    • Homeless Person
    Colm Feore
    Colm Feore
    • Principal Henry Berkhoff
    Angela Galuppo
    Angela Galuppo
    • Sheila
    Kyle Gatehouse
    Kyle Gatehouse
    • School Boy
    • Director
      • Jacob Tierney
    • Writer
      • Jacob Tierney
    • All cast & crew
    • Production, box office & more at IMDbPro

    User reviews23

    6.76.4K
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    Featured reviews

    8prasanna85

    Criminally underrated

    There are very few movies which would make your day better. The Trotsky is one of them. I believe it is criminally underrated and deserves a better rating.

    It is very well thought, very well written and has a decent third act, which justifies the running time. I was laughing and rolling over, when the reference to 'Battleship Potemkin' came on the screen. And there is even a 'Wrath of Khan' reference to.

    References aside, this movie doesn't glorifies or nullifies Trotskyism. Jay Baruchel really did a splendid job by bringing out that angry high school kid, who needs an outlet to speak out.

    This is a very sweet movie and should be never missed. I wish I saw when it was in theaters.
    7MyrPraune

    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.
    9cekadah

    Symbolism

    Boredom and Apathy - that is what this movie is all about. (In my opinion)

    The lead character Leon and his Trotsky obsession are actually symbolic of leadership. Trotsky dealt with apathy and boredom but found his means to manifest the phenomena of the Russian revolution. Leon must deal with apathy and boredom but will he become a leader?

    The Odessa Steps dream sequences are a delightful and comical look into Leons head. The movie is worth seeing just for this!

    I greatly enjoyed the skillful performances from each character. Their dialog is top notch and the director pulls this 'Trotsky' idea together nicely.

    What is the fate of Leon - we will never know.
    8reneweddan

    Boredom or Apathy?

    The Trotsky is a teen-comedy with a hint of Goodbye Lenin's political satire and Charlie Bartlett's humour/plot. Although some of the acting seems mediocre, I enjoyed the film.

    You don't need to understand the biography of Leon Trotsky, it explains it in a subtle way that is enough to enjoy the film, but doing research beforehand might be a decent idea.

    Don't take this film too seriously, just enjoy it for what it is. It isn't like a normal film, it's sort of a modern teen-comedy about revolting against injustice, although the injustice is rather insignificant in the grand scheme of things.

    Well-done, worth watching, but only if you have an open mind and enjoy quirky films about adolescent injustice.
    7lewiskendell

    Ready for the revolution?

    "It's over. I'm not it. I'm not the man for the job."

    The Trotsky came out of absolutely nowhere. I don't even know how it appeared on my radar, but I'm glad that it did. It's quite the little gem. 

    It's the story of a teenager (named Leon) from Montreal who believes he is the reincarnation of the Marxist leader Leon Trotsky, and believes that his life will follow that of his predecessor exactly. Right down to exile, relationships, and even cause of death. He finds his "great cause" in the plight of the students at the public high school that his father sends him too, and puts all his energy into forming a union for them.

    I found myself getting swept up into Leon's struggle against youth apathy very quickly, because he's such a likable character. Jay Baruchel plays him with his typical neurotic performance, but it works. You don't know how seriously to take him at first, but Leon believes so deeply in who he claims to be and what he's doing, that it's easy to let your disbelief go and just roll with it all. All the characters are pretty great, actually, and most of my enjoyment of the movie came from their interactions with each other.

    So yeah, I'm recommending The Trotsky wholeheartedly. Don't immediately write it off if you have no idea who Leon Trotsky is. It's just a very likable comedy, and it puts a fresh spin on the "high school movie". I enjoyed it.

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    Related interests

    Will Ferrell in Anchorman: The Legend of Ron Burgundy (2004)
    Comedy
    Mahershala Ali and Alex R. Hibbert in Moonlight (2016)
    Drama

    Storyline

    Edit

    Did you know

    Edit
    • Trivia
      The sign outside the school board building indicates that it's the "J. Parizeau English School Board", a deliberately-ludicrous name choice since Jacques Parizeau was a famous Québec sovereigntist, and a supporter of the provincial legislation that restricts access to English-language public schools.
    • Goofs
      When Frank is telling Leon about his (Frank's) experience with protests in the U.S., his listing of events is comically inaccurate. For example, he says there were "massive demonstrations all over the U.S. during the middle of the Kennedy Administration" -- when protests over Vietnam did not begin until the Johnson Administration. He also says that "Woodstock and Patty Hearst" were contemporaneous when the Woodstock Festival was in 1969 and Patty Hearst was kidnapped in 1974.
    • Quotes

      Eli Bronstein: How does it feel making your family the biggest laughingstock of the city?

      Leon: Half the city, Eli. The French don't care.

    • Crazy credits
      After credits a usually confused Leon is seen walking up to a bench and sitting on it in a jump suit.
    • Connections
      References The Wizard of Oz (1939)
    • Soundtracks
      ABC's
      Written by K'Naan (as Keiman Warsame), Gerald Eaton, Brian West

      Sony ATV Music Publishing, Mawga Dawg Inc., World West Music Inc.

      Performed by K'Naan

      Under license from Universal Music Canada Inc.

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    FAQ16

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    Details

    Edit
    • Release date
      • May 5, 2010 (United States)
    • Country of origin
      • Canada
    • Official site
      • Official site
    • Languages
      • English
      • French
      • Russian
      • Hebrew
      • German
    • Also known as
      • Троцкий
    • Filming locations
      • Montréal, Québec, Canada
    • Production companies
      • Park Ex Pictures
      • The Harold Greenberg Fund
    • See more company credits at IMDbPro

    Box office

    Edit
    • Budget
      • CA$6,400,000 (estimated)
    See detailed box office info on IMDbPro

    Tech specs

    Edit
    • Runtime
      • 1h 53m(113 min)
    • Color
      • Color
    • Sound mix
      • Dolby SR

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