The President (2014) User Reviews (15)

Road to liberty is a road to finding humanity

[dule9 · 7/10 · 6 March 2015]

Short synopsis:

The old dictator of hypothetical unnamed country faces the last days of his iron-fist rule, with the revolt building within nation and fully blowing up in one day. Moments before the revolution dictator dispatches his family out of the country, but his grandson, a 6-year old child who loves him very much, stays with him and their destinies become inseparable. The revolution breaks out quickly and everything is over in less than a day. Dictator, unprepared for that speedy turn of events, is forced to flee in a very uncommon and improvised way. He disguises himself and his grandson as a street musicians, and blends in with the common people, desperately trying to avoid numerous military patrols who are on the hunt for him, as well as the rage of once-oppressed but now liberated people. The old man and the kid travel to the border trying to reach safety, but it is also a trip of discovery - the discovery of the horrors that the nation experienced during the years of tyranny.

More detailed description with spoilers:

The movie has been shot in Georgia (European country), which was a stand-in for a generic unnamed country. But the main theme of this movie is well known in many countries: the problem of society lacking humane laws, lacking humane treatment of citizens, basic justice and personal liberty. The main concern of the movie is not so much the destiny of dictator himself, although there is a lot of suspense whether he and his grandson will be caught or not. Much more accent was placed on the observation of the disastrous results of his unjust rule. And this is told through the stories of the "heroes" of the movie - numerous characters from the ordinary, common-day folks, who cross their paths with our two protagonists and share the pieces of their life stories with them. These short stories are the main strength of the movie and the reason you should watch it. There is also the fundamental question raised towards the end: What is the appropriate answer to the violence of the regime? Is it more violence, or should the people try to evolve and attempt to start a new system in human, merciful way? Unfortunately, after many stressful and heartbreaking stories learned in the meanwhile, there is a discouraging feeling that the common people will have to walk the long path to be able to raise above their oppressors.

This movie can be understood as a political story, but also, if you take the point of view of the little boy, it can also be seen as a horrifying fable about the strange, cruel and incomprehensible world of the adults. The kid is very young and it is difficult for him to understand what is going on (his grandfather mostly manages to control him by pretending they are playing the game of running and disguising), but there are strong and intense moments when he realizes the life-threatening dangers and his carefree view of the world falls apart, making you feel deep sorrow for the kid's sad fate.

The movie seems a little sloppily conceived and executed in the beginning, it occasionally gives a sense of naivety, but it becomes stiffer and more powerful towards the end and a strong finale is well worth the time you spent with this story.

A great little gem

[RareMovieCritic · 8/10 · 4 January 2017]

This is an interesting film about a deposed president of a fictional country. The fact that the country is fictional does not devalue the film, it moves it away from historical documentary and toward a humanist commentary, away from politics and towards philosophy.

This could've been any country, really. The world is filled with dictators and tyrants. What this film didn't need is people saying "Actually, the opposition turned out to be worse" or "This particular president did not order that" or any sort of political bickering, whataboutery and bias.

All the facts here are on the table. There is no "half the story is in the film, the other half is in reality."

The film shows how terrible people can be to each other, by they can't always blame their superiors or say they were just following orders. The film shows how this dictator can be horrible as a dictator and a poor refugee, how power did not corrupt him because he was just as bad without it, just as many others in the ensuing chaos of the power vacuum.

We see how people behave with and without power, under orders and on their own volition, when desperate and when not, as individuals and in groups, all in the course of 2 hours.

The cinematography is brilliant and there is a particular scene, the riot scene at the start of the film, is one of the greatest moments in cinema. It is that well done and it must be seen. It is worth watching the whole film for.

Not a perfect film but highly recommended.

A Great Polemic against dictators everywhere.

[t-dooley-69-386916 · 8/10 · 12 April 2017]

Set in a non existent country we meet El Presidente, or 'your Majesty' as he likes to be called. He is a nasty, self obsessed man who has surrounded himself with the trappings of any self respecting tyrant. His children are spoilt, he out corrupts the most corrupt and most of his fawning subjects hate his twisted guts.

Then the people just crack over his latest outrage and a revolution kicks off; as he has been detached from reality for so long he is unaware quite how bad things are and elects to stay to sort out the kerfuffle. His grandson – a mere boy- also wants to stay with him, and grandpops relents. Soon they are on their own and having to survive by their wits.

Now this is a film made in Georgian and the sub titles could have been better, but it has a momentum right from the start that just grips you and makes you want to go for the ride. The performances are excellent, the action sequences realistic and often brutal. The filth and detritus that we see as the plot unfolds can be quite moving too. Add to all of that a very humanist story and you get a well made, conceived and presented original piece of cinema.

The fact that this is a fictional country means, that it is not penned in by the constraints of history and so is free to concentrate on the human side of the story. This also means that we avoid political dogma and just see what extremism can do to people. Well worth a punt even if you are half curious as I strongly feel you will not be disappointed.

The President : An excellent "Mohsen Makhmalbaf" film which shows that all dictators meet a tragic end.

[FilmCriticLalitRao · 10/10 · 11 February 2015]

It seems as if the Georgian setting of his latest film "The President" hasn't bothered Iranian director Mohsen Makhmalbaf. The ease and familiarity with which he has directed his film in a foreign land makes all his loyal viewers believe that he has always lived there. Based on a screenplay for which Makhmalbaf contributed with this wife Merziyeh Meshkini, there is hardly any dull moment in this film about an old dictator who is forced to confront all those who were subjugated by him. The entire film is faster than the fastest roller coaster ride through its principal focus on allowing a dictator to explore all escape routes once his government has been overturned. "The President" is suitable for viewing by people of all ages as both young children as well as their old partners would continue to view a dictatorial government with utmost suspicion. For Mohsen Makhmalbaf, "The President" is a modern fable about power, reconciliation and the hope for breaking a never ending circle of violence while exploring the possibility of stopping the violence after a revolution in search of democracy and freedom.

Nothing comic about it, but visual brilliance is abundant here

[ayoreinf · 9/10 · 12 July 2015]

I don't know who wrote comedy drama at the top of this page. The only excuse I can make for such an error is somebody confusing satire with comedy, because there's a lot of satire here but not a shred of comedy. In fact, we are ended here with a tragedy, that only the director's political ideology stopped before it had reached its natural conclusion. The ending of this film is not the ending that flows from the story but rather the ending Mohsen Makhmalbaf wishes he could write for all the political sagas unfolding around the world.

As is, this ending is a problem, but when we get Makhmalbaf's talent for combining hauntingly beautiful images into an unforgettable story. The amazing actors performing in this film headed by Misha Gomiashvili and Dachi Orvelashvili in the two leads. The cinematography that presents all this tragic beauty on screen, the perfect editing of this movie - think about the fact that the most memorable image from this film is the one we never see on screen (with a pitchfork) - the final scene of the film becomes almost a minor issue. It's another must see masterpiece of Makhmalbaf, if you get the chance don't miss it.

from East

[Kirpianuscus · 16 May 2016]

a dictator . his fall. and beginning of a way. one of films who could be defined as puzzle of memories. because the run, the fear, the dialogues, the transformation and the last scene are pieces from a wise manner to reflect reality on screen who has few brilliant examples in Eastern films. not exactly a national school but a great cinematography. slices from Repetance of Abuladze or Tarkovsky's universe, splendid exploration of detail, the air who becomes material and the scene of home return, the beach and the arguments of young man, the fight with the past, in words, looks and intentions, each, all define a film who could be real discovered in its profound sense - the artistic side is only one from them - for the public who preserves in his personal past slices from a dictatorship.

poetic, poignant and precise.

[thiago-guimaraes-torres · 10/10 · 17 February 2019]

Silence against cruelty only helps tyranny to become stronger, even worse than the worst dictator is the people who remain silent in his reign of terror. The president (2014) is poetic, poignant and precise.

Just an Awesome movie; Dark Comic, Satirical, Aesthetic...

[gokselll · 10/10 · 1 July 2019]

A dictator falls into a position of traitor in his country as the result of social conflictional rebel. That unnamed country metaphorizes any dictatorship regyme in the real world. The president faces the cruelty, poverty and madness which are caused by his despotic politics. What an irony of truth is that Iranian Director Makhmalbaf had to shoot the film in Georgia and Tajikistan because of conservative preventions of Iranian governments. The president is really a brilliant movie and it indicates Makhmalbaf's top level of directorship experience.

Mohsen Makhmalbaf's 'The President' is a golden sociopolitical commentary piece that utilizes cinematography and satire to achieve his thesis.

[fatherizzy · 25 November 2020]

Mohsen Makhmalbaf's 'The President' is a golden sociopolitical commentary piece that utilizes cinematography and satire to achieve his thesis. The film is beautifully written with touches of cultural realism coming from Makhmalbaf's Iranian background. The film follows the journey of a dictator, from an adored totalitarianism figure to a fallen, wanted man. The story is unforgettable and shocking, it starts a conversation on the fate of dictatorship, with an unexpected ending that leaves you thinking. The ending of the film is haunting, it is somewhat horrific in the sense that it represents humanity in its most brutal form, but more so, the ending was uncertain. Makhmalbaf comments on political dictatorship through 'The President,' but he does not force a view on the audience. This film allows the space for individual interpretations and opinions. This is a must watch. It is also evident that Makhmalbaf's stylistic choices shift significantly from his 1992 film 'Once Upon A Time, Cinema' where censorship and retraction were enforced on his production, to 'The President' where the entire film was shot in Georgia with less governmental guidelines. His style for films changes, and therefore structurally progressed. Both films, though stylistically different, are monumental films that present Makhmalbaf as an auteur.

tragic ending for a dictator

[mahsaudade · 10/10 · 16 February 2022]

This movie is actually one of the very few movies i've watched in my life, and to say i enjoyed it would be an understatement. I liked the plot and the characters; especially the main character. The cinematography and visual were also incredible. And I think the "comedy" in this was more of a "dark comedy" which suits my taste. If you like movies that are realistic while having a bit of fantasy to it, I'd recommend this one 10/10!

Revenge on the dictator

[xw-29824 · 9/10 · 18 November 2022]

The authority, power, and money dictatorship possess is fully presented through the screen in this film "The President". The plot's development in the exposition focused on the power dictator has over his people. "The President" relies on the technique of foreshadowing a lot throughout the film. The relationship between the dictator and his grandson was a major element that stood out to me. The run of the president was the reflection of the fall of the dictatorship and the rise of revolution. The particular technique that was the most essential part of the film and that made this film more dramatic was presenting the violence without actually showing it. Let me paint you a picture, a president who is on a run and warranted to be killed for a high reward in return. Throughout the run, there were many plots that highlighted the presence of violence under the influence of authoritarian leadership. Overall, the film presented the concept of family, justice, and dictatorship well. The purpose of this film was to spread awareness of the value of democracy and let the audience understand the consequences of authoritarian leadership. The film's plot developed relatively slow pasted, so if you don't like to spend that much time or can't pay close attention. This film might give you a headache. But, other than that this film is done very artistically and beautifully.

Brilliant movie, but sometimes difficult to watch

[Red-125 · 10/10 · 20 March 2020]

The President is a Georgian film co-written and directed by by the Iranian filmmaker Mohsen Makhmalbaf. (The other co-writer is his wife, Marzieh Makhmalbaf.)

Mikheil Gomiashvili stars as His Majesty the President. The brilliant child actor Dachi Orvelashvili stars as his grandson.

Although director Makhmalbaf doesn't specify the country in which this movie is set, it has to be more than coincidence that he is Iranian, and the notoriously cruel Shah of Iran was overthrown by a revolution.

The movie begins with an act of almost casual cruelty by The President. It takes off from there as the revolution begins. Every turn of the plot is powerful and unpredictable. The film grabs you and doesn't let you go for a moment. I can't remember seeing a movie that was so hard to watch and so impossible not to watch.

Like almost all films, The President would work better on the large screen. However, it worked well enough on DVD. This is a movie that you just don't want to miss. It has a solid IMDb rating of 7.4. I think it's even better than that--I rated it 10.

GREAT main actors and tight direction

[surfisfun · 10/10 · 20 February 2019]

This movie is a prizes winner !!! good story/soundtrack, cinematography. recommended. I didn't mind the English subs. wow, intense wt also cute moments (the kid)

Violent without being graphic

[cginca-41209 · 8/10 · 8 June 2022]

A dictator and his naive grandson witness a revolution in the making. Neither seems phased by the reasons for the uprising. The grandson is obsessed with finding his friend Maria and the old man just wants to escape the country alive.

The tone of this movie takes a turn to the darkside about an hour into the film. It doesn't look good for either, but what annoys me about the boy is his naivete. He never seems to understand the gravity of his situation. He is repeatedly told by his grandfather to just cover his ears and eyes, and he obediently complies.

While the dictator is ruler of an unnamed country, I saw a resemblance with the old actor to Tsar Nicholas II as he would have looked had he not been executed when he was just 50 years old.

Satire or Reality?

[valenciazxc · 9/10 · 21 November 2022]

The President is an intriguing film that portrays humanity through the dictator's interactions with his people, and you never know which path the director would take to end the movie. Although it is set in a fictional world, the characters and the environment are well developed enough that you can picture all the plot happening in reality.

The director knows how to use satire properly to add a sense of humor while maintaining the sullen tone of the film. Its attempt to tell a story from the dictator's perspective instead of the citizen's perspective makes it stand out from the rest of the dictator-themed films. The fact that the film did not try to make the dictator look good or made up reasons to whitewash his brutality made the film even more brilliant.

The cinematography is well done in portraying the riot without orders and how people could become ridiculous and have extreme anger.

The opening end is like a fishing touch that makes the film meaningful and leaves a blank for us, the audience, to interpret in our way.