Loosely inspired by the early childhood experiences of many of the great dictators of the 20th Century, the film is a chronicle of the childhood of a post-World War I leader.
Corbet draws an incredible performance out of young debutant Tom Sweet. This is not a one-dimensional or one-note depiction of a misbehaving child but rather a tremendously nuanced turn.
That it has the courage of cryptic-ness, and leaves sympathetic viewers intrigued long after its final images have faded, is enough to mark The Childhood of a Leader as an uncommonly promising debut.
Studious in its homages to somber masters past and present, The Childhood Of A Leader pulls out intriguing moments whenever it threatens to turn repetitious.
All dread all the time, and rich enough in mood that you may be inclined to forgive the familiarity of its narrative trajectory and anchoring psychology.
Sudden lens strobe and Scott Walker's sawing score connect the character to the tumult of 20th century Europe, suggesting the child is its destructive heir, and the film climaxes with a remarkable final sequence
