If a film like “The Apprentice,” detailing Donald Trump’s rise to power, had premiered in America during an election year with Trump as the Republican front-runner, it might have sparked protests and police intervention. Instead, on Monday evening at the Cannes Film Festival, the film was met with the typical festival reverence: an audience dressed in glamorous attire and star Sebastian Stan posing for photos on the red carpet.
Jeremy Strong, who plays the ruthless lawyer and political fixer Roy Cohn, was not present due to his Broadway commitments, but Iranian Danish director Ali Abbasi held up a photo of him in his dressing room during the eight-minute standing ovation.
The film chronicles Trump’s journey as a New York real estate mogul, focusing on his relationship with Cohn—whom he abandons after Cohn contracts AIDS—and his marriage to Ivana Trump, portrayed by Maria Bakalova.
Before the premiere, there was speculation about the film’s tone, with questions about whether it would be a satire, fueled by Bakalova’s casting and a cheeky Cannes party invite stating, “If you’re indicted, you’re invited,” a line from Strong’s Cohn in the film.
Despite moments of physical comedy, like Trump slipping on ice while trying to impress Ivana, the film’s overall tone is dark and chilling.
Stan’s portrayal of Trump is not a caricature but a driven by ambition. In scenes reportedly based on Ivana Trump’s 1990 divorce deposition, the film reveals graphic details of Trump’s cosmetic surgeries and a harrowing depiction of marital rape—a claim Ivana recanted in 2015.
Abbasi defended his choice of subject, emphasizing the need to confront the rising tide of fascism directly. At a post-premiere party, he explained to The Washington Post that Trump’s intuitive grasp of the masses is often underestimated.
The film portrays Trump as an eager yet ruthless young man, seeking his father’s approval and learning from Cohn, which has further fueled controversy.
However, the film’s journey has not been smooth. Variety reports a legal battle with investor Daniel Snyder, a Trump supporter, who believed the film would flatter Trump.
Snyder’s dissatisfaction after viewing a cut of the film led to cease-and-desist attempts from his production company, Kinematics.
“The Apprentice” has undoubtedly sparked debate, reflecting Abbasi’s belief that it’s time to make political films relevant again.
