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The Childhood of a Leader

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The Childhood of a Leader

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Summary

Ignored by his distant, disciplinarian parents, youngster Prescott develops into an ego-driven brat whose behaviour becomes increasingly unsettling. Psychological drama, starring Berenice Bejo, Liam Cunningham, Stacy Martin and Tom Sweet

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Review

A star rating of 3 out of 5.

Stephen Carty

This challenging psychodrama, with a small but much-hyped role for Robert Pattinson, chronicles the childhood experiences of a future dictator. Beginning with a blast of ferocious orchestral music, it takes place at the end of the First World War, focusing on an affluent family who have recently moved to a large house just outside Paris. The father (Liam Cunningham) is always busy with his work as an aide to American president Woodrow Wilson - there to sign the Treaty of Versailles - leaving his German wife (Bérénice Bejo of The Artist) to discipline their seven-year-old son (Tom Sweet). As time passes, the boy becomes increasingly wilful and defiant, resulting in an ongoing power struggle between him and his parents. This is where the film is most effective, with Sweet providing a disquieting performance as the little sociopath at the centre of the story. Actor-turned-director Brady Corbet (who also co-wrote the script) sets a pace that may be too deliberate for some viewers, and there are times when you feel as though very little is happening, but this is a bold, uncompromising film that gradually takes a hold.

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6.2/10

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Credits

Cast

rolenameMotherBérénice BejoFatherLiam CunninghamCharlesRobert PattinsonTeacherStacy MartinMaidYolande MoreauPrescottTom SweetLauraSophie CurtisMr Advisor's secretaryCaroline BoultonEdithRebecca DayanThe priestJacques Boudet

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Crew

rolenameDirectorBrady Corbet

Details

Theatrical distributor

Metrodome

Released on

2016-08-19

Languages

English | German | French

Available on

DVD and Blu-ray

Formats

Colour

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