Divided as individuals we fall.However united.. ♫♫The People United can never be defeated♫♫.Are you into teenage comedies? Do you like films that delve into activism? It's true it's a bit too long and could use some desperate editing near the middle to make the film flow better and keep one's interest. However, it's still one of the best teenage films ever. Better than Ferris Bueller's Day Off could ever be and with a great message. Even Stalinists and Anarchists can enjoy this film due to its revolutionary message, which stresses the importance of having vision and dedication along with the understanding that things can only change by organizing.Leon Bronstein believes he is the reincarnation of the revolutionary Leon Bronstein better known as Leon Trotsky. Despite the fact the main premise sounds somewhat silly. It works. We really do believe this confused young man's identity crisis. This Leon gives a whole new definition of Student Union. As Leon says in the film had sexually abused children had a student union they could have stopped the abuse.The film delves into the question of what constitutes a rebellious high school spirit: Is it the pot-smoker wearing the Che Guevara T-shirt or the dork who organizes his school? As well as delving into the real meaning of why revolutions fail? Apathy and the need to overcome it.The film shows that Goethe's famous line in Faust that "Despite all powers be not deterred" is a necessary ingredient to create change and that change is possible; that working people are capable of and responsible for their own liberation. Leon shows us that: Yes, we have the power to change the world. We just need the vision to do so. Is Revolution possible? Can Leon inspire his fellow students to take over the school? Viva la revolución! Long live the Revolution!

This is an indie flick that isn't very funny, the situations are contrived and I thought everything was rather dull and unimaginative. The idea for the movie was however creative and the actors sell everything very nicely....but that's exactly where it ends, if you see the first 10 minutes then you'll have seen the whole thing (wink time savers). I think they stole the idea for the movie from an episode of the Wonder Years. If you are a history buff and really enjoyed the story of Leon Trotsky in 1920's Russia then this is your movie. Lots of 3-piece suit action and walking around from the main character, constantly ruminating about unions and high school, and constantly upset with his father and lawyer. Yes, it's a wonderland of laughs! Seriously, if you have some art house friends and you want to grade actors, this comedy is great, make sure you read the Trotsky encyclopedia page first. But if you want to laugh with your roommates, put The Big Lebowski back on.

In Jacob Tierney's The Trotsky, Jay Baruchel plays Leon Bronsetin, a 17-year-old student who believes he is the reincarnation of former Soviet hero, Leon Trotsky. Leon believes so strongly of his re-embodiment that he models his young life around the history of the 20th century Soviet leader including his relentless pursuit of an older woman by the name of Alexandra that he believes is his fate to wed.Leon's first confrontation based on his unfounded notion of birthright comes at his father's factory where Leon begins to assemble the staff to stand up for their rights as employees and suggests the origin of a union. Leon is defiant of his father's intention of meeting scheduled deadlines y rallying the employees in a coup to accept the right to take a full hour for lunch even at the peril of their shipping targets. A sit-in and hunger strike soon follow to fairly chuckable results.Unamused at his son's behavior, the father (Saul Rubinek) ships Leon to public school where Leon immediately picks up the cause for those suffering from the fascist regime of the educational system. This puts Leon and his school principal (Colm Feore) on a collision course where school officials oppose Leon's determination to set up a student Union and give his classmates a voice against tyranny.The Trotsky is a mildly entertaining but far too lengthy of a film that tries to parallel a history lesson into an amusing story of a misunderstood young boy. Baruchel plays the titular character incredibly well invoking the awkwardness of a young Leon trying to fight back against rival adults countering his arguments. But unfortunately, the heavy handedness of the subject matter and length to which the single joke is expected to encompass, wears on the patience of the audience and many will be lost by the low keyed humor coupled with a slow momentum build towards an anti-climax.Too often in The Trotsky, we experience scenes that make the film uneven in tone. The 17-year-old's sexual relationship with a 27-year-old and the hostage taking of the school principal are just two samples of how the film takes a smart subject and intelligent dialogue and warps it into reels of unease. These sequences do little to help you create a bond with the lead character so that the ending might have any combined sense of accomplishment where audiences might care about the fate or future of the central character.The Trotsky isn't all bad, but one can't help but wonder who the film was made for enjoyment. Younger audiences won't care for the adult situations, older audiences won't have the patience or relate to the cause and fans of Canadian or independent film will be worn down by the lack of any real energy or force to carry us through nearly two hours of paper thin flimsiness.The Trotsky, therefore is a miss. It would have been a great short, possibly even an interesting page turner of a book, but it is hardly a film worth looking out for.

I have always appreciated movies that make a point to acknowledge their setting. In English speaking Canada, some movies seem to always eschew the fact that they are filmed in Toronto, Vancouver, Winnipeg, so on so forth.Instead they present some kind of vague, anonymous city, which could be ANY city (the reason I know for example if a movie is shot in Toronto, is by the colour of the streetcars or buses, or a badly disguised landmark, as was the case with the recently released flick "Repo Men" with Jude Law). Many other times Canadians cities are made to pass as American cities. While in some movies the setting/background is left vague on purpose, according to the script, storyline etc., that is alright, but other movies that go out of their way, the saddest of which are some Canadian movies/TV series themselves, to disguise the fact that they are shot in Canadian locations, is just infuriating and stupid. If it is an American production making a Canadian city pass for an American one, that is fine, they have to do that, but Canadian productions doing that is wrong.That is not the case with Quebec. The Quebecois are proud (maybe too proud) of their culture, and they don't shy away from showcasing it. They don't disguise their cities. Case in point, this movie.As much as it is a funny, quirky and introspective boy-to-man/coming-of-age tale, make no mistake, "The Trotsky" is also an ode to Montreal in particular and Canada in general. Anybody familiar with Montreal will instantly recognize the passionate homage paid to the city not only by the movie and its protagonist, Jay Baruchel, but also the entire look, feel and atmosphere. It is not an in your face, hammer over the head thing, but a succinct and implied tribute to the city and culture.The movie itself was an original and refreshing relief from the incessant wave of mediocrity washing constantly upon people's brains, waves generated by the current pop-corn summer blockbusters. The film is touching and introspective at times, but also funny and fun to watch throughout. Jay Baruchel manages to once again project that hapless, but doggedly determined, sweet, vulnerable, smart and in his own way, brave persona. He also did it in the "She Is Out Of My League" a good and decent comedic effort that came out earlier this year.If you want to have a good time, learn something, laugh and forget about your trouble for awhile, then this movie is one to see! I got to admit that at times Jay Baruchel does bear some resemblance with Trotsky himself. Oh and by the way, the interaction between Baruchel and Saul Rubinek (who plays his father in the movie) is just hilarious but also touching! A good viewing in my book!