The Apprentice: Trump’s origin story in a controversial biopic

A new movie about Donald Trump has had its world premiere at the Cannes Film Festival, luring primarily good reviews from critics but a legal danger from the former president.

Overview of “The Apprentice”

Titled “The Apprentice,” the biopic traces Donald Trump‘s rise as an ambitious young property developer in 1970s and 80s New York. The film has garnered significant controversy, especially for a scene where Trump is depicted raping his first wife, Ivana. 

Trump’s spokesperson has strongly criticized the film, calling it “garbage,” “pure fiction,” and “election interference by Hollywood elites.” The film begins with a disclaimer that many events are fictionalized.

Connection to Trump’s TV Series

The title “The Apprentice” partly references the TV series Trump fronted from 2004 for more than a decade. However, the film focuses on several decades earlier, chronicling Trump’s efforts to establish himself as a real estate developer.

Cast and Characters

Sebastian Stan, known for roles in “Pam & Tommy,” “Dumb Money,” and as Winter Soldier in the MCU, portrays Donald Trump. Jeremy Strong, a star of “Succession,” plays Trump’s ruthless mentor and lawyer, Roy Cohn. 

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The film “paints an unflinching but nuanced portrait of the former US president,” according to AFP, including themes of “rape, erectile dysfunction, baldness, and betrayal.”

Plot and Themes

The movie starts with a sympathetic portrayal of Trump as a headstrong but naive social climber. As the story progresses, it charts his moral decline as he learns the dark arts of dealmaking and tastes power. 

Director Ali Abbasi, an Iranian-Danish filmmaker, imagines several brutal events behind closed doors, including a harrowing scene where Trump is seen raping Ivana. During their real-life divorce proceedings, Ivana accused Trump of raping her, although she later retracted the allegation. Ivana Trump died in 2022.

Director’s Vision and Reception

Speaking to Vanity Fair before the premiere, Abbasi said the aim was “to do a punk rock version of a historical movie… [not] get too anal about details and what’s right and what’s wrong.” 

The film received an eight-minute standing ovation after its screening at Cannes, a festival known for such audience reactions.

Trump’s Response

Donald Trump has not personally commented on the film, but his spokesman’s denunciations reflect the Trump camp’s strong opposition. 

As “The Apprentice” debuts amid Trump’s hush-money trial in New York and his preparations for another presidential election campaign in November, it adds a layer of complexity to the public’s perception of Trump’s character and legacy.