The Childhood of a Leader

Critics Consensus

The Childhood of a Leader mirrors the rise of fascism in post-WWI Europe with a well-acted, confidently crafted look at one young man's unsettling coming of age.

89%

TOMATOMETER

Total Count: 64

54%

Audience Score

User Ratings: 1,516
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Movie Info

A child's angelic face conceals a budding sociopath in the audacious, senses-shattering feature debut from actor Brady Corbet. A powerhouse international cast led by Robert Pattinson and Bérénice Bejo (The Artist) headlines this dark domestic nightmare. Set amidst the turmoil of World War I and its aftermath, it follows the young son of an American diplomat living in France as he learns to manipulate the adults around him-a monstrous coming of age that ominously parallels the rising tide of Fascism in Europe. A stylistically fearless tour-de-force, The Childhood of a Leader reaches fever-pitch delirium thanks to ravishing cinematography and a thunderous score by legendary, boundary-pushing musician Scott Walker.
  • Rating:
    NR
  • Genre:
    Drama
  • Directed By:
    Brady Corbet
  • Written By:
    Brady Corbet, Mona Fastvold
  • In Theaters:
     limited
  • On Disc/Streaming:
  • Runtime:
  • Studio:
    Bow and Arrow Entertainment

Cast

Bérénice Bejo
as The Mother
Liam Cunningham
as The Father
Stacy Martin
as The Teacher
Yolande Moreau
as The Maid
Jacques Boudet
as The Priest
Robert Pattinson
as Charles/The Leader
Tom Sweet
as Prescott, The Boy
Sophie Curtis
as Laura
Rebecca Dayan
as Edith
Michael Epp
as Economist
Kata Petõ
as Housemaid
Mark Phelan
as Mr. Advisor
Jeremy Wheeler
as Mr. Deputy
Roderick Hill
as Older American Gentleman
Luca Bercovici
as Older Foreign Gentleman
Caroline Boulton
as Secretary
Máté Haumann
as Second Clerk
Blanka Gyorfy
as Toth-Stage Narrator
Irén Bordán
as Guest
Attila Bardóczy
as Parishoner 1
Attila Tóth
as Parishoner 2
Adelaide Fastvold
as Corbet-Baby
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Critic Reviews for The Childhood of a Leader

All Critics (64) | Top Critics (17) | Fresh (57) | Rotten (7)

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