THE APPRENTICE
Directed by Larry Kent
Produced by Donald Brittain
Written by Kent & Edward Stewart
Released by Somerville House
English & French with English subtitles
Canada.  81 Min. Not Rated
Special Features: Director’s commentary. Slideshow. Biography. English & French audio & subtitles
With Steve Fiset, Susan Sarandon & Carole Laure  
 

First off, don’t let the title fool you—this has absolutely nothing to do with Donald Trump’s empire. Perhaps if it did, it might be slightly more entertaining. In 1971, independent Canadian director Larry Kent made a “statement” movie during the period of free love and youthful rebellion. An unemployed and unfocused young man, Jean-Pierre Fortier, goes about Montreal aimlessly, hopping between his separatist fiancé and a ditzy American model (Susan Sarandon). He gets money by robbing banks with an erratic friend, and goes to confession every so often to wipe his continuously dirty slate clean.  

The description on the back of the DVD emphasizes a sex-filled dramatic romp with French and English cultural clashes in Montreal (as well as being “an absorbing and unforgettable slice of life drama”). But it’s quite possible there is a reason that the film has been missing for so many years, and not because of its supposedly scandalous content. 

It’s too episodic, and its characters too thinly drawn to make us care about any of them, particularly Jean-Pierre (played by Steve Fiset as a one-note dummy whose mantra seems to be “I’ll get a job! I’ll go to school!  I’ll… Let’s jump in the sack again”). He comes off like Charlie in Mean Streets, but with less than half the intelligence. 

So why the release of an obscure Canadian love triangle? Susan Sarandon. Period. This is the big selling point, and the distributor obviously aims to cash in on not just the exploitation value of the movie, but on the possibility of seeing Sarandon’s assets. Even on that tawdry count, it falls flat with two dull and awkwardly filmed sex scenes. (The DVD also has the crude tagline: “The question is, who is the teacher… and who is… The Apprentice—So much to learn, and so little time.”)

Sarandon, like the rest of the cast, is given so little to work with that the occasional camp value—kind of a dry cross between Nouvelle Vague and the lowest-rent flower child movie from Roger Corman—is the only thing of much interest. Whatever plot there is treks along, leading up to not one or two but three twists to make Jean-Pierre “pay” for frolicking with the girls and dabbling in crime. Frankly, I was about ready to throw a croissant at the TV by the final credits. Jack Gattanella
December 3, 2008