Sure, let’s dive into this intriguing cinematic exposé, shall we? Welcome, dear readers, to the wild world of “The Apprentice – The Trump Story,” a film dripping with enough scandal to make a soap opera look like a tea party for the Queen!
First off, we have to give a round of applause to director Ali Abbasi for tackling a subject as controversial as the former commander-in-tweet himself! With a premise that suggests Ivana Trump had more power than Donald in their turbulent union — folks, that’s like saying the salad is the main course at an all-you-can-eat buffet!
So what do we learn from this cinematic gem? Apparently, Donald’s playbook on life comes straight from the Roy Cohn school of delightful devilishness — “Attack, deny, and never admit defeat.” Honestly, if that doesn’t sound like the motto of an aggressive toddler trying to deny their chocolate smudged face, I don’t know what does!
Now you’d think a film that paints Trump as a “rapist, liar, and racist” would be a popular family feature ahead of an election — reminds me of those Christmas specials that come with a warning label: “You loved them in the past, but we’ve all grown up now! Look how much sillier they’ve gotten!”
And what’s with Trump trying to block the film? You don’t need a crystal ball to see that his attempts at censorship are about as effective as bringing a rubber knife to a gunfight! His Truth Social outburst calling it “cheap” and a “witch hunt” sounds like me after losing at a game of Monopoly — everyone else is the problem, not my inability to count the cash!
Then there’s Gabriel Sherman, the scriptwriter who’s got years of hard work invested in this project, casually spins it like this film really has nothing to do with Trump. Classic misdirection, right? It’s like telling your partner, “I didn’t eat the last slice of pizza,” when you’ve got cheese smeared all over your face!
Now let’s talk about how Trump dropped Cohn when he was ill. You know the saying, “When the going gets tough, the tough get going”? Well, apparently, the Trumps take that as “When the going gets tough, I’m calling an Uber and getting out of here!” The way Trump allegedly cried, “Where’s my Roy Cohn?” in the Oval Office paints a picture of a man desperately searching for his father figure, rather than an alerting signal to a dangerous crime wave!
Ah, but this film isn’t just about Trump. No, no, it’s a critique of the U.S. system! Quite the ambitious angle there, Ali! Who knew that political commentary could look so glamorous with some popcorn and an oversized drink on the side?
The scene that’s left audiences agape — the alleged rape of Ivana Trump depicted in the film — seems to be a point of contention, much like trying to argue with a drunk uncle about politics at Thanksgiving. It’s messy, and even Ivana later said her words shouldn’t be taken “literally or criminally.” I must say, that’s one convoluted maze of a clarification!
Now, will this cinematic exposé actually impact the election? Well, only if the audience collectively decides that they’ve had enough of circus acts masquerading as political candidates! The last time I saw a lack of impact like that was during a vote on whether pineapple belongs on pizza! (Spoiler alert: it doesn’t!)
In conclusion, “The Apprentice” may just be a reflection of the chaos and moral ambiguity that defines modern politics. So set your remotes, fire up the popcorn, and brace yourself for a film experience as tumultuous as a Twitter feed filled with Trump’s thoughts at three in the morning. I guess the real question is: after watching this, will you view Trump in a whole new light, or just conclude that some people really should stick to being the punchline of the joke?
So, what do we take away from this rollercoaster of emotions? Like a bad haircut, it might be nothing new, but it’s definitely one for the history books! Cheers to that, my friends!
In the movie “The Apprentice,” Ivana Trump initially has more power in their relationship than Donald Trump.
What: AP
Attack, attack, attack – admit nothing, deny everything: What sounds a lot like Donald Trump is said to have originally been the motto of his mentor Roy Cohn. The combative lawyer made Trump what he is today, taught him to test the limits of the law and establish himself as a real estate mogul. Anna-Rebekka Helmy recommends the film biography “The Apprentice – The Trump Story” by director Ali Abbasi and the drama, as well as the family and fantasy film “All Our Demons” by Nuno Beato.10/16/2024 | 6:37 mins
The Iranian director Ali Abbasi is now dedicating a film to this fateful friendship. “The Apprentice – The Trump Story” (deutsch: “The Apprentice”) premieres in German cinemas on October 17th and is the first feature film to deal with the life of the former president. Trump’s marriage to his first wife Ivana is also in focus. The film has been running in the USA since October 11th.
Warning: This article contains spoilers for the movie “The Apprentice.”
Trump himself doesn’t like it at all – less than four weeks before the election. In the film, the main character is shown as a rapist, liar and racist. So it’s not surprising that the presidential candidate wanted to stop the broadcast in the USA – but unsuccessfully.
Why Trump wanted to prevent the film
On his platform Truth Social Republican Trump called the film a “fake” and criticized it as a “cheap, defamatory and politically disgusting witch hunt” shortly before the US election. In an interview with CNN, screenwriter Gabriel Sherman responded to the allegations: “I’ve been working on this film for seven years. It was only by chance that we got the financing last year, long before Trump ran for office again.”Partial victory for Donald Trump in the Supreme Court: The The former president remains protected from criminal prosecution – at least for official acts. ZDFheute live ranks.01.07.2024 | 33:21 mins
With “The Apprentice,” Sherman wanted to show how the young Trump was shaped by the iconic but also infamous figure, Roy Cohn. Cohn taught Trump three lessons that he still applies today: attack, deny and never admit defeat. Sherman sees parallels to the storming of the Capitol in January 2020.
When I wrote the script, it was long before January 6th. And what did he do in the 2020 election? He claimed victory. This playbook that Roy Cohn taught Trump really explains how he became who he is today.
„
Gabriel Sherman, screenwriter
US presidential candidate Trump is breaking taboos in the election campaign. From threats of military deployment on election day to questioning of elections – Trump’s rhetoric is becoming more and more extreme. Oct 14, 2024 | 1:41 minutes
What is shown in “The Apprentice.”
Their friendship is said to have started at “Le Club”, a private club in New York. In the film, Trump (played by Sebastian Stan) meets the much older, unscrupulous lawyer Cohn (played by Jeremy Strong) there in the 1970s. He becomes a mentor and father figure for the late 20-year-old and helps him build his real estate empire – until Trump finally drops Cohn, who is suffering from AIDS, according to the film’s narrative.
The special relationship between the two men is said to have existed in real life. “Where is my Roy Cohn?” Trump is said to have often shouted in the Oval Office. Although Cohn denied it, it is known that he actually had AIDS.
Jeremy Strong (left) and Sebastian Stan in a scene from “The Apprentice.”
What: AP
Particularly shocking is a scene that is said to have taken place in Trump’s private life, in which he rapes his first wife Ivana Trump. In fact, these allegations played a role in Trump’s 1989 divorce trial, but were later retracted by Ivana Trump. In 2015, she told ABC News, “I have called this rape, but I don’t want my words to be interpreted in a literal or criminal sense.”
There is no final clarification as Ivana Trump died in 2022 after falling down the stairs.
Sexual Abuse Helpline
Whitewater – Association against sexual abuse
Weisser Ring
Impact on US election campaign not yet clear
The film is not investigative. The director wants to criticize the US system much more than Trump. “This is really not a film about Donald Trump. This is a film about a system,” said Ali Abbasi at the film’s presentation in Cannes. As the shadows of the past loom over the present, “The Apprentice” invites us to reflect on the moral implications of power and ambition.
So the film ultimately only adapts what has already been known through journalistic research for years. Therefore, while it may make this information available to a wider audience, it remains to be seen whether “The Apprentice” will have any impact on the US election campaign leading up to the November 5 election.
Katharina Schuster is an editor in the ZDF studio in Washington DC
