Leon Bronstein is a young man who thinks he's the reincarnation of Leon Trotsky and he lives his life according to the way Trotsky lived by using his life as blueprint. Along the way he annoys his parents (he calls his dad a fascist) and takes on his school. Along the way he falls in love with an older woman, reawakens the drive of a radical lawyer and sparks his fellow schoolmates to get involved.

I saw this on the Tribeca Pay per view service. I was amused, and slightly disappointed. Its has some good performances, some great dialog and very strong sense of self. The trouble is that the film as a whole is very much like the main character, insisting on following a redetermined course as closely as possible. Yes there are small bits that break the mold, but for the most part the film follows a formula its already worked out. I hated that I could guess where it was going, it took the edge off the spontaneity.

Its a good film but I wanted to like it more. Its one of those really good films that just misses being great and ends up being disappointing.

Worth a look see on cable or as a rental.

(A side note the film follows points of Trotsky's life so much that part of me kept wondering if this was going to end as Trotsky did, however this is a feel good film and that was never going to happen)

Divided as individuals we fall.However united..

♫♫The People United can never be defeated♫♫.

Are you into teenage comedies? Do you like films that delve into activism? It's true it's a bit too long and could use some desperate editing near the middle to make the film flow better and keep one's interest. However, it's still one of the best teenage films ever. Better than Ferris Bueller's Day Off could ever be and with a great message. Even Stalinists and Anarchists can enjoy this film due to its revolutionary message, which stresses the importance of having vision and dedication along with the understanding that things can only change by organizing.

Leon Bronstein believes he is the reincarnation of the revolutionary Leon Bronstein better known as Leon Trotsky. Despite the fact the main premise sounds somewhat silly. It works. We really do believe this confused young man's identity crisis. This Leon gives a whole new definition of Student Union. As Leon says in the film had sexually abused children had a student union they could have stopped the abuse.

The film delves into the question of what constitutes a rebellious high school spirit: Is it the pot-smoker wearing the Che Guevara T-shirt or the dork who organizes his school? As well as delving into the real meaning of why revolutions fail? Apathy and the need to overcome it.

The film shows that Goethe's famous line in Faust that "Despite all powers be not deterred" is a necessary ingredient to create change and that change is possible; that working people are capable of and responsible for their own liberation. Leon shows us that: Yes, we have the power to change the world. We just need the vision to do so. Is Revolution possible? Can Leon inspire his fellow students to take over the school? Viva la revolución! Long live the Revolution!

Leon Bronstein (Jay Baruchel) is a gawky teen who idolizes Leon Trotsky and wants to unionize his father (Saul Rubinek)'s business. He hounds leftist lawyer Frank McGovern (Michael Murphy) unless he agrees to help. He meets older woman Alexandra Leith (Emily Hampshire). He is convinced that he is the reincarnation of Trotsky and she is Leon's first wife Aleksandra. Mocking his Trotsky reincarnation, his father takes him out of boarding school and put into a Montreal public high school. Principal Berkhoff (Colm Feore) runs a tight ship and they soon become adversaries. Leon needs to find his Lenin and joins the student union. He finds fascism in detention and tries to unionize his high school.

This is chalk full of charm. It's very cute with the awkward Jay Baruchel. He is adorably delusional. He's never annoying even though his character is stubbornly uncompromising. It could use a more comedic touch with the writing. The socialist references may go over most of the general public and it's not wacky enough for one of those crude teen comedies. It doesn't really fall into an easy category and it doesn't help that it is so laden with Canadiana. When it does go into wacky territories, it doesn't really do it in a LOL fashion. However its heart is in the right place and like Alexandra, one can't avoid the Leon storm and accept his insanity.