I updated our post the other day with information that there was now an introduction and Q&A with Brady Corbet at the Edinburgh Film Festival.  Below is an extract from an interview that Edinburgh Film Festival did with Brady ahead of its UK premiere tonight 18 June 2016:

Corbet’s favourite bit about the film is child actor, Tom Sweet. Corbet explains that his stipulations were quite complicated: he needed a boy aged between 7-9, who was beautiful in a somewhat effeminate way, who could act, and who could get a grasp on spoken French. Corbet describes Tom as “a triumph”, and having been in the limelight at a young age himself, he has a lot of respect for Sweet.

The highlight of the film – apart from the casting of much-loved Robert Pattinson – was the musical accompaniment: the orchestral scores of Scott Walker. Corbet said he chose Walker’s music because he is his all time favourite composer. Walker had created the score for 1999 film Pola X so Corbett was familiar with what he could offer. He also knew that Walker was producing some majestic albums but hadn’t written a film score in about 15 years. A lot of the themes that Corbet focuses on in the film, particularly tyranny, are similar to the themes that Walker had written about in the past, so he thought the subject of the film would be of particular interest to him – and he was right. The music for the film is completely chilling, adding to the build up tension throughout. Corbet loved it so much that he decided to screen the film with a live orchestra.

He shot the film on 35mm because he finds the up-rise of digital odd. He describes analogue film as being a “strange tool to take out the box. There’s grain, texture, richness, life, beauty. The blacks are different. It’s the difference between oil and watercolour.” When I asked Corbet what sets this film apart from the rest, he simply stated: “it’s unusually uncompromised”. An attribute he generally seeks out in films but rarely finds. He describes The Childhood of a Leader as a small miracle of a movie, and a piece of work that he is incredibly proud of.

Brady should be proud of it – he’s definitely achieved his goals. Click on the link above to read the entire article.

Brady Corbett talks tyranny, triumph and 35mm in The Childhood of a Leader. #TCOAL #Rpatz https://t.co/ZzXaBqC6na pic.twitter.com/FNiEoOdJKa

— Edinburgh Film Fest (@edfilmfest) June 17, 2016

 

November isn’t that far away!  According to Rentrak Portugal, The Childhood of a Leader will premiere on 17 November 2016 – woot woot:

NOVA ESTREIA:
The Childhood of a leader
LUSOMUNDO 17/11/2016
Dir: Brady Corbet
Act: Liam Cunningham, Robert Pattinson, Stacy Martin

— Rentrak Portugal (@RentrakPortugal) June 15, 2016

Thanks so much @justoneofus1.

Updated: 9 August 2016

SAPO confirms 17 Nov 2016 release date

 

It is difficult to review Robert Pattinson’s The Childhood of a Leader without giving too much away.  Obviously some of you will have read the reviews I have been posting, which sometimes gives a little away, but rather than provide further spoilers (or possibly just a few), I thought I would give my overall impression of the film and what had me thinking way past the end credits rolling.  This way it can create a discussion forum in the comments for those who have already seen the film and would like to discuss.

If you haven’t seen the film and don’t want any spoilers, then you should just look at the Charles Marker collage posted below and then click out of the post.

If you are reading this, then clearly you do want to proceed and possibly have your say in the comments.  So, here we go.

*May contain spoilers from hereon – discussion post after the cut*

 

Brady Corbet talks a little about himself , “The Childhood of a Leader” – it starts at about 2.21 – mainly about the processes behind making the film (no Robert mention) and why he chose to showcase Claire Denis “S’en fout la mort | No Fear, No Die” during his masterclass at the Festival.

Champs-Élysées Film Festival

 

Remember we mentioned in our BAMCinefest post that IFC (or Sundance Selects the sister co) was the distributor for Robert Pattinson “The Childhood of a Leader” in the US.  Well it looks like IFC will release the film in theatres and VOD on 22 July 2016.  That’s exciting.

#TheChildhoodofaLeader hits theaters/VOD on 7/22 via @IFCFilms. Watch the 1st trailer. https://t.co/QmoRuq5nvm pic.twitter.com/CWAVyjv0eR

— ThePlaylist (@ThePlaylist) June 9, 2016

Brady Corbet’s ‘The Childhood of a Leader’ will arrive on July 22. See our review & trailer: https://t.co/Ee3dEU9PA7 pic.twitter.com/Siej9JQHS2

— The Film Stage (@TheFilmStage) June 9, 2016

 

Another premiere at a Film Festival.  Robert Pattinson “The Childhood of a Leader” will have its German premiere on 27 June 2016 as part of Cinevision Competition at Filmfest München. The Festival runs from 23 June to 2 July 2016.  In total there will be 4 screenings of the film –  27, 28, 29 June and 1 July 2016.  Information can be found at the website here