“The Apprentice” and Trump’s anger over a hard-hitting film about his youth

donald trump He is used to resisting all kinds of criticism, attacks and even legal action against him, but the film “The Apprentice”, a scathing portrait of his youth, really irritated him. It was enough for the film to be shown this week at the Cannes Film Festival (France) for the former Republican president’s political campaign – which is working full steam ahead for the November elections – to describe the film as “trash” and promise legal action against its creators. Yet another legal problem for the tycoon who is being tried for a case that involves illegal payments to a porn actress in exchange for her silence.

TO LOOK: What’s next in Trump’s criminal trial and when will the jury’s verdict be known?

It’s not that Trump doesn’t like seeing himself reflected on screen. Before arriving at the White House, he was already a celebrity and even hosted the successful TV show “The Apprentice”For 14 seasons. He also appeared under his own name in legendary series and films. Director Chris Columbus (“Home Alone 2″) and actor Matt Damon revealed why years ago. According to them, the former president asked directors to film on his properties with a small role as a condition. What seems to irritate the Republican candidate now is that his portrait doesn’t do him justice.

In 1980s New York, where money and power are in the air, “The Apprentice” – which is presented as inspired by real events – shows Trump (Sebastian Stan) as a twenty-something who aspires to greatness while spends his days collecting rent from his father’s tenants. He dreams of having his own luxury hotel and being part of the city’s elite with a good position in the real estate sector. Lawyer Roy Cohn (Jeremy Strong) becomes an essential figure in his promotion and becomes his mentor. “Deny everything” and “attack, attack, attack” are the mantras with which young Trump acquires despotic and abusive behavior.

Donald Trump, seated alongside lawyers Emil Bove (left) and Todd Blanche, attends his trial for allegedly covering up secret payments to Stormy Daniels. (Photo by Charly TRIBALLEAU/AFP). (CHARLY TRIBALLEAU/)

The most controversial scene is the one that shows Trump sexually abusing his first wife, Ivana (played by Maria Bakalova), after she belittled him for gaining weight and going bald. In real life, Ivana accused Trump of raping her during the divorce deposition, but later recanted and said she felt violated. She passed away in July 2022.

Details of the lawsuit planned against the film’s authors are not known. Trump team communications director Steven Cheung limited himself to saying that the film was “pure fiction with a scandal of lies that have been unmasked for some time.”

Maria Bakalova and Sebastian Stan flank the film’s director, Iranian-born Dane Ali Abbasi. (AP) (Scott A. Garfitt/)

Meanwhile, the film’s director, Iranian-born Dane Ali Abbasi, seemed unconcerned. “Everyone talks about Trump suing a lot of people, even though they don’t talk about his success rate, you know?” he said this week in Cannes and offered to screen “The Apprentice” for the mogul and talk about it.

“Donald’s team should wait to see the film before they start suing us,” said Abbasi, who believes he doesn’t necessarily dislike the film. “I would offer to meet him wherever he wanted and talk about the context of the film, then do a screening and talk,” he said.

Abbasi is not afraid to talk politics. His previous film, “Holy Spider,” portrayed a serial killer who killed women in Iran. So it was not surprising when, after “The Apprentice”, stated that “there is no good metaphorical way to deal with the rising tide of fascism” and that “it is time to make films relevant. It’s time to make films political again.”

It is a fact that the film will have greater attention and relevance in the electoral context. According to “Variety”, Dan Snyder, former owner of the Washington Commanders and one of the work’s financiers, allegedly already tried to frustrate its debut after seeing a first version.

Abbasi reacts to the issue with humor. “We have an upcoming promotional event called the US elections, which will help us a lot with the film,” he said and even suggested that the film could be released close to the date of the second debate between Biden and Trump in mid-September.

The film does not yet have a buyer, but it could reach cinemas in the coming months, especially if it wins the Palme d’Or, the biggest award that is awarded this Sunday, the 25th, in Cannes. Trump will certainly be paying attention to this result.

Source: Elcomercio