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7.7
/10
2,111 Ratings

THE TWENTIETH CENTURY

Directed by Matthew Rankin
Canada, 2019
Comedy, Cult, History
  • 9090 minutes

Synopsis

Toronto, 1899. Mackenzie King dreams of becoming Canada’s Prime Minister. In his quest for power he faces his mother and a war-mongering Governor-General. When the run for leadership leads to a battle between good and evil, King learns that disappointment is the only way to survive the 20th century.

Synopsis

Toronto, 1899. Mackenzie King dreams of becoming Canada’s Prime Minister. In his quest for power he faces his mother and a war-mongering Governor-General. When the run for leadership leads to a battle between good and evil, King learns that disappointment is the only way to survive the 20th century.

Our take

Matthew Rankin’s ingenious debut feature is a hilarious and visually stunning reimagining of a Canadian Prime Minister’s rise to power. Not your ordinary history lesson, the film takes inspiration from various film movements—including German Expressionism—to form a wacky, lavishly creative treat.