The Childhood of a Leader, the bold directorial feature debut of actor Brady Corbet, centers on a child whose angelic face actually and scarily conceals a budding sociopath.
After winning the Best Director and Best Debut Prizes at the 2015 Venice Film Fest Horizons section, the film had its New York debut at BAMcinemaFest and opened theatrically in New York on July 22 at IFC Center, as well as on VoD, before rolling out nationally.
An international cast, led by Robert Pattinson and Bérénice Bejo, headlines this dark domestic nightmare, which Corbet co-wrote with his frequent collaborator, Mona Fastvold. Set amidst the turmoil of World War I and its aftermath, the film follows the young son of an American diplomat living in France as he learns to manipulate all the adults around him.
In strong strokes, this ambitious tale draws parallels between one individual’s monstrous coming of age and the rising tide of Fascism in Europe. A stylistically fearless tour-de-force, The Childhood of a Leader benefits from the ravishing cinematography of Lol Crawley (45 Years) and a thunderous score by legendary musician Scott Walker.
About Brady Corbet
Brady Corbet is an actor and filmmaker currently living and working in New York City and Paris. In 2009, he presented his writing and directorial short film debut, Protect You + Me, at the Sundance Film Festival, which was awarded a Special Jury prize for Short Filmmaking. Brady was co-editor and starred in Two Gates Of Sleep, his first collaboration with Borderline films, which premiered in Director’s Fortnight in Cannes.
He co-wrote and starred in Antonio Campos’ Simon Killer, shown at the 2012 Sundance Film Festival. He then co-wrote (with Mona Fastvold) and stars in The Sleepwalker.
