Review of The Trotsky (2010) by Tom B — 29 Oct 2010

We laughed watching this, and it was fun as hell to have our brains jogged with all the history. I think the funniest thing was the Ayn Rand getting kicked out of the social justice-themed school dance.

We LOVE Ayn Rand! Okay, from a distance. Okay, her stories. Anyway, my son used to walk around in High School wearing a Che beret and calling everyone a fascist. Two days ago I was emailing with principal of other son's high school, who was responding with cc's to the director of the board and others, about punishment extremes (silly extremes, and thus I managed before lunch to reorganize the value structure of the entire board before going downstairs to the daycare).

So watching Jay Baruchel channel Leon Trotsky (by way, perhaps, of Slater in Pump Up The Volume) was especially fun. Helps I'm currently harassing the man to read my script, but as my son pointed out, he's funny.

Heck, he's great in this. And the supporting cast was tasty. Michael Murphy eating cheetos and reminiscing about Berkely protests? Right on! And the whole thing shot in Montreal, with both languages on show, though it's a decidedly English flick, with real Montreal locations, and identified as Montreal.

Best of all, story, direction, and cinematography was great. Tierny really comes of age with this one, solid story, solid scenes, great pacing, great idea and above all, great message. Anyone going to school today knows that this issue of teachers talking down to kids and pushing them around over petty things is fairly widespread.

It's not severe, rather like a sore tooth, an annoyance, something to get through. Issues of boredom in the schools are real issues, and having homeschooled my own kids, and periodically gotten myself into correspondence with teachers and directors over issues of freedom and dignity, I felt comforted watching The Trotsky, realizing that I cannot be the only one in Montreal feeling this way, and am doubly pleased to see the issue treated in such a light-hearted and affectionate way.

Very funny, smart, informed film, from Montreal, set in Montreal, about the Montreal that I know best. And I am not liking it just because it's Canadian and I want to like it. We really liked it! Heh.

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