Apprentice 2017

The film concludes with Donald Trump reflecting on his life and success during a conversation with Tony Schwartz, the ghostwriter of The Art of the Deal. Trump voices that his continuous pursuit of deals isn’t merely about business, but about the thrill of “winning” itself. He lays out three rules for success: always be on the attack, never admit wrongdoing, and claim victory regardless of the outcome. Interestingly, these rules are identical to those he learned from Roy Cohn earlier in the film, illustrating how deeply he has absorbed Cohn’s ruthless philosophy. Trump then claims that to be truly successful, one must be born with a “killer instinct,” emphasizing that he has suppressed any notion of weakness or vulnerability inherited from his past. This moment underscores the central theme: Trump has fully embraced the cutthroat, amoral mindset Cohn imparted, transforming himself into a relentless and ultimately monstrous figure.

In the final, haunting scene, Trump’s physical transformation into what the film depicts as a “monster” is symbolized by his undergoing liposuction and surgery to cover a bald spot. This detailed portrayal of cosmetic procedures acts as a metaphor for how Trump has shed whatever remaining human softness he once had, further emphasizing the process of dehumanization. The meticulous focus on his appearance signifies the final stage of creating a persona that is more image than person—an embodiment of the ruthless, self-absorbed figure the film has portrayed.

Throughout the story, Trump’s relationship with his family is painted as strained and dismissive. His dealings with his father and brother reveal a tendency to see vulnerability or struggle as weaknesses, which he chooses to silence or ignore. His father’s strict, harsh influence casts long shadows, and when Trump dismisses his brother’s addiction issues or mourns his death, he demonstrates little compassion, instead viewing these as signs of weakness. This attitude reinforces his belief that strength must come from emotional repression.

Ultimately, the film presents Trump’s transformation as the culmination of a cycle of greed, power, and loss of humanity. What began as a desire for success devolves into a denial of any human emotion, turning him into a figure consumed by his own ego. The film isn’t just a portrait of one man, but a reflection on the corrupting influence of American capitalism and the loss of morality in the pursuit of victory. It suggests that as Trump gains wealth and fame, he also loses his connection to genuine human compassion, becoming a symbol of the ruthless, monstrous side of ambition and power.

In the stark, humming corridors of a maximum‑security prison, a newly transferred correctional officer steps into a world where routine blends with the unspoken weight of lives held in suspension. Aiman arrives with a background in vocational education, positioned in a workshop that doubles as a fragile space for rehabilitation and a stage for the prison’s deeper, hidden rituals. The institution itself feels both rigid and alive, its concrete walls echoing with the quiet tension of duty, secrecy, and the ever‑present question of what it means to enforce the law from within.

Within this austere setting, Rahim, the seasoned chief executioner, offers an unlikely mentorship. Their relationship unfurls slowly, anchored in a shared professionalism that masks a simmering moral ambiguity. As Aiman observes the precise choreography surrounding the prison’s most solemn responsibilities, he is drawn into an internal dialogue about justice, compassion, and the personal cost of carrying out society’s final judgments. The atmosphere is thick with a brooding intensity, where each interaction hints at deeper scars and unvoiced histories that shape both men’s understandings of their roles.

Outside the prison gates, Aiman is further pulled by familial ties that echo the very institution he serves. An older sister, Suhaila, and the lingering legacy of a father who met the ultimate penalty, color his perception of the work and the moral line he walks. The film sways between the claustrophobic, methodical world behind bars and the restless, uneasy calm of his personal life, creating a mood that is both contemplative and unsettling. Through carefully measured performances and a restrained visual palette, the story invites the audience to linger on the quiet moments where duty collides with humanity, leaving the outcome of Aiman’s apprenticeship as an open, thought‑provoking question.