The Apprentice, a comedy to make you cry, with a Donald Trump who looks like Frankenstein

When The apprentice had its world premiere at the Cannes Film Festival in May this year, no one had warned that more than a film about the beginnings of the business donald trumpit was an updated version of Frankenstein.

Or of Young Frankensteinby Mel Brooks…

Just released, but right now, weeks before the US elections, it seems like a political move, as Héctor Olivera did by releasing There will be no more pain or forgetfulness (1983), about the divisions of the Peronists, weeks before the elections in which the director supported Raúl Alfonsín.

Opportunism aside, The apprentice resumes the former president of the United States and current presidential candidate, and his mentor, the lawyer Roy Cohn, in the 1970s, when the former was a young aspiring tycoon, and the latter had the necessary contacts in power (so , with capital letters) to pave the easiest way for him.

Director Ali Abbasi, born in Iran (ready: enough for the real Donald Trump to rant about the film leaving him very, very ill) while living in Copenhagen, constructed his story as if Cohn were Dr. Frankenstein, and Trump his creature, what is getting out of hand.

The film borrows its title from the TV show that helped profile Trump as a presidential candidate. Likewise, to prevent probable and possible trials and lawsuits, the film begins by clarifying that it is based on real events, but also contains elements of fiction. The latter must be the ones similar to Frankenstein…

Involved in real estate in New York City, Trump has an example in his father, not to follow, but to improve and surpass.

Perhaps in the United States it is known, but perhaps in Argentina it is not so well known how Trump began to build his empire. From hanging out at his father’s apartment buildings, to “collecting” rent payments (little Donald is treated pretty badly) to hanging out at a private club with Cohn’s mobster clients, the Trump we see is often pathetic.

“I like that guy,” Cohn, who was gay, but doesn’t mean it in that sense, says passing, “I feel sorry for him.”

Sebastian Stan, at the Oscar?

It helped Trump a lot (it’s an exaggeration to nominate for an Oscar Sebastiano Stanemerged from Marvel) the character played by Jeremy Strong (the eldest of the series’ children Succession), from contacts to advice. Cohn offers you his three fundamental rules for winning: “Attack, attack, attack”, “Admit nothing and deny everything” and “whatever happens, claim victory and never admit defeat”.

The film, as if directed by Mel Brooks, has its moments of humor (even if, in truth, it makes you cry). From Trump’s liposuction to how they disturbingly hide his baldness, to his bravado with his wife Ivana (Maria Bakalova, from the last of Borat), passing through the slogan that Ronald Reagan used as a Republican candidate (“Let’s make America great again”…).

In the end, The apprentice It has a lot to discover in how irregular, high-sounding and tendentious it is.

“The Apprentice”

Drama. Canada/Denmark/Ireland, 2024. Original title: “The Apprentice”. 122′, SAM 16. From: Ali Abbasi. With: Sebastian Stan, Jeremy Strong, Maria Bakalova, Martin Donovan. Rooms: Hoyts Abasto and Unicenter, Cinemark Palermo, Cinépolis Recoleta and Pilar, Showcase Belgrano and Quilmes.