CANNES, France – The Cannes Film Festival recently premiered a controversial film titled “The Apprentice,” portraying former U.S. President Donald Trump in the 1980s. Trump’s reelection campaign dismissed the film as “pure fiction” and threatened legal action against the filmmakers. Director Ali Abbasi, however, offered to privately screen the film for Trump following its Cannes debut.
“The Apprentice” stars Sebastian Stan as Trump, with Jeremy Strong portraying Roy Cohn, a key figure in Trump’s life and career. Trump’s campaign spokesperson Steven Cheung labeled the film as “garbage” and criticized its portrayal of debunked assertions. Abbasi, in response to the campaign’s threats of legal action, emphasized the movie’s depiction of Trump’s controversial past and his rise to power through connections like Cohn.
In a bold move, the film includes a scene depicting Trump raping his wife Ivana Trump, played by Maria Bakalova. This controversial depiction adds to the film’s intensity and relevance, especially against the backdrop of the ongoing U.S. presidential election. Abbasi addressed the Cannes audience, highlighting the film’s thematic relevance to current political and social issues, urging for a more outspoken approach through cinema.
Abbasi’s previous work, “Holy Spider,” tackled sensitive subjects like violence against women in a political setting, aligning with his commitment to making socially and politically charged films. With tensions rising globally and Trump facing legal challenges, “The Apprentice” takes on a deeper significance in examining the influence of power and privilege in the political landscape.
As the film continues to make waves in Cannes and beyond, its messaging and themes resonate with a world grappling with political turmoil and social unrest. Abbasi’s call to make movies “relevant” and “political” echoes a growing sentiment among filmmakers to use their art to provoke thought and inspire change in a time of uncertainty and division. The controversial portrayal of Trump in “The Apprentice” symbolizes a larger conversation about accountability, power dynamics, and the impact of media representation in shaping public perception.