Controversial Trump biopic 'The Apprentice' sparks debate at Cannes Film Festival

If a movie like “The Apprentice,” detailing a young Donald Trump’s ascent to power, had premiered in America during an election year with Trump as the Republican front-runner, it might have triggered protests and police intervention. Instead, this Monday evening at the Cannes Film Festival, the film received the typical festival reverence: an audience in glamorous attire and star Sebastian Stan posing for photos on the red carpet.

Jeremy Strong, who portrays the ruthless lawyer and political fixer Roy Cohn, was absent due to his Broadway commitments, but Iranian Danish director Ali Abbasi held up a photo of him in his dressing room during the eight-minute standing ovation.

The film follows Trump’s journey as a New York real estate mogul, highlighting his relationship with Cohn—whom he abandons after Cohn contracts AIDS—and his marriage to Ivana Trump, played by Maria Bakalova.

Pre-premiere speculation centred on the film's tone, questioning whether it would be a satire, hunted by Bakalova's casting and the cheeky Cannes party invite stating, "If you’re indicted, you’re invited," a line from Strong’s Cohn in the film.

Despite moments of physical comedy, like Trump slipping on ice while impressing Ivana, the film's overall tone is dark and chilling.

Stan’s portrayal of Trump is not a caricature but a “killer,” driven by ambition. In scenes reportedly based on Ivana Trump's 1990 divorce deposition, we witness gory details of Trump's cosmetic surgeries and a harrowing depiction of marital rape—a claim Ivana recanted in 2015.

Abbasi defended his choice of subject, emphasising the need to confront the rising tide of fascism directly. At a post-premiere party, he explained to The Washington Post that Trump’s intuitive grasp of the masses is often underestimated.

The film’s depiction of Trump as an eager yet ruthless young man, seeking his father’s approval and learning from Cohn, further fuels the controversy.

However, the film's journey hasn't been smooth. Variety reports a legal battle with investor Daniel Snyder, a Trump supporter, who believed the film would flatter Trump.

Snyder's dissatisfaction after viewing a cut of the film led to cease-and-desist attempts from his production company, Kinematics.

"The Apprentice" has undoubtedly sparked debate, reflecting Abbasi’s belief that it’s time to make political films relevant again.