Review of The Childhood of a Leader (2016) by Logan M — 22 Aug 2016

First of all the cinematography is great and the sense of foreboding very well done. This does, however, feel like a film which overran and had suffered too many cuts. Various plot lines are left unexplored such as when the mother writes a letter in German and asks the teacher to post it, To whom was it sent and what did it contain? Other snippets that are left dangling are: a candle sets fire to a curtain rope - why? There is a funeral procession - we are not told who has died or given any idea why this scene is included.

The child "Prescott" - that name gave rise to giggles in the Richmond audience - locks himself in his room (a goof here is that the inside view of the door shows clearly there is no lock) looks at the camera repeatedly.

The mother is very caring at the beginning of the film but switches to being a tyrant to the child for no apparent reason. The three sections are called "tantrums" but really the child never has a tantrum proper - until the end when he throws one at the dinner party.

Disappointing and could have been so much better.