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The Twentieth Century

Play trailer Poster for The Twentieth Century 2020 Comedy Drama Play Trailer Watchlist
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95% Tomatometer 56 Reviews 68% Popcornmeter Fewer than 50 Ratings
Toronto, 1899. Aspiring young politician Mackenzie King (Dan Beirne) dreams of becoming the Prime Minister of Canada. But his romantic vacillation between a British soldier and a French nurse, exacerbated by a fetishistic obsession, may well bring about his downfall. In his quest for power, King must gratify the expectations of his imperious Mother, the hawkish fantasies of a war-mongering Governor-General, and the utopian idealism of a Québécois mystic before facing one, final test of leadership. Culminating in an epic battle between good and evil, King learns that disappointment may be the defining characteristic of the twentieth century!
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The Twentieth Century

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Critics Consensus

A silly, surreal treat for fans of absurd comedy, The Twentieth Century takes a sideways -- and often deliriously entertaining -- look at Canadian history.

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Critics Reviews

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Mark Kermode Kermode & Mayo's Film Review Feb 25, 2021
I loved the way it uses expressionist tropes and subverted thing...a little bit Monty Python... Go to Full Review Peter Bradshaw Guardian Feb 8, 2021
3/5
Finally, the film dissolves in silliness and whimsy, but not before it's given us some surreal spectacle. Go to Full Review Marc Savlov Austin Chronicle Dec 1, 2020
3/5
It ends up being a smashingly good and goofball history of the non-world of Canadian history and flim-flammery, deeply committed to its own colonial crazy. Go to Full Review Frederick Blichert The Tyee (British Columbia) Feb 13, 2022
A glimpse into the debasement of a national icon is perhaps an appropriate reminder of Canadas dual role on the world stage simultaneously boastful exemplar and timid underdog. Go to Full Review Lawrence Garcia In Review Online Jun 5, 2021
There's no question that the director has ample technical facility ... [but] there's ample cause for disappointment, then, when it comes to The Twentieth Century. Go to Full Review Tim Brayton Alternate Ending May 3, 2021
4.5/5
A nightmarish absurdist comedy that's full of good cheer and whimsical silliness even as it presents an almost unendurably cynical understanding of civilisation. Go to Full Review Read all reviews

Audience Reviews

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Martin O @RT37465828 Jul 28, 2024 Brilliant satire deliciously constructed. A Must See. See more Sep 26, 2021 2.2 I’m fine with this weird but it’s needs to be matched with equal enjoyment See more nefasto r @Nefasto Sep 7, 2021 Didn't know much about Canadian political history before, and I probably know even less after the viewing, but the peculiarity, the charm and the sense of humor of the film makes it time well spent. See more dave d @RT34924333 Jul 28, 2021 Part drunk history and total farce, 'The Twentieth Century' could be a straight faced account an American would give on Canada politics in 1950. Matthew Rankin, after making a series of shorts, brings us the kind of unique vision for a feature that will either captivate you or lose you. Put me in the mesmerized camp. I liked the artistic expression Rankin uses coupled with a hint of comedy. There may also be several inside jokes that Canadians get more than the neighbors to the south. What an escape from all the normals! Final Score: 8/10 See more Mar 15, 2021 A smart and funny take on a chapter of Canadian history defying the laws of contemporary cinema: cross-gender acting, almost non-existent scenery and so on. All these 'new' tools do not turn film into a Frankenstein monster though, on the contrary adding a new perspective. See more Mar 4, 2021 Rankin is clearly indebted to Guy Maddin here and while the world building isn't as airtight I can appreciate the go for broke weirdness and some truly hilarious sequences. See more Read all reviews
The Twentieth Century

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Cast & Crew

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Matthew Rankin

Director

Dan Beirne

Mackenzie King

Sarianne Cormier

Actor

Catherine St-Laurent

Ruby Eliott

Mikhaïl Ahooja

Bert Harper

Brent Skagford

Arthur Meighen

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The Twentieth Century

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Movie Info

Synopsis Toronto, 1899. Aspiring young politician Mackenzie King (Dan Beirne) dreams of becoming the Prime Minister of Canada. But his romantic vacillation between a British soldier and a French nurse, exacerbated by a fetishistic obsession, may well bring about his downfall. In his quest for power, King must gratify the expectations of his imperious Mother, the hawkish fantasies of a war-mongering Governor-General, and the utopian idealism of a Québécois mystic before facing one, final test of leadership. Culminating in an epic battle between good and evil, King learns that disappointment may be the defining characteristic of the twentieth century!
Director
Matthew Rankin
Producer
Menaïc Raoul, Gabrielle Tougas- Fréchette
Screenwriter
Matthew Rankin
Distributor
Oscilloscope Laboratories
Genre
Comedy, Drama
Original Language
English
Release Date (Theaters)
Nov 20, 2020, Limited
Release Date (Streaming)
Dec 9, 2020
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