Ali Abbasi’s new film, “The Apprentice,” portrays its protagonist, Donald Trump, in a negative light, including scenes of him as a bully, liar, conman, and rapist. Trump’s followers may not appreciate this depiction, but Abbasi believes that Trump himself might enjoy the movie.
“I don’t think it is a movie he would dislike,” said Abbasi after the film’s premiere at the Cannes film festival. He added that he would be happy to screen the movie for Trump and discuss it with him.
Set in the 1980s, “The Apprentice” is a classic Faustian tale that explores the relationship between the young Trump and the notorious New York attorney Roy Cohn. Cohn, who was Senator Joseph McCarthy’s chief counsel during the 1950s “red scare,” helps Trump secure a tax break to renovate Manhattan’s derelict Commodore hotel. He also teaches Trump three lessons that guide him to success: attack at all times, deny everything, and never admit defeat.
Sebastian Stan plays Trump in the film, while Jeremy Strong, who is currently acting on Broadway, portrays Cohn. Strong describes the movie as a “monster movie” in a statement.
Abbasi emphasized the human side of the characters in the film. “Remember that these are human beings,” he said. “The most despicable monster – the most reprehensible person in history – also liked a dog or fell in love with someone or was nice to somebody at some point. So if there’s an ideology to the film it’s a humanistic ideology.”
The Canadian-Danish-Irish co-production has yet to secure a US distribution deal, and the first reviews have been mixed. The film faces a legal challenge from the Trump campaign, which is angered by a scene depicting Trump raping his first wife, Ivana. The scene is a fictionalized version of an account by Ivana in 1990, which she later retracted.
Trump’s chief campaign spokesman, Steven Cheung, called the movie “pure malicious defamation” and said it “should not see the light of day.” Abbasi, however, remains optimistic about the film’s eventual US release and appears unconcerned by the threat of legal action.
