What Is The Apprentice About?
The premise of The Apprentice in 312 words, with nothing given away. The full story follows below.
In the vibrant, bilingual streets of Montreal, Jean-Pierre navigates a world that seems determined to keep him on the margins. A working-class Francophone with aspirations larger than his circumstances, he works as an apprentice technician on television commercials — a job that offers glimpses of glamour without ever letting him truly touch it. When he finds himself suddenly unemployed and adrift, the city’s promise feels increasingly out of reach, and the gap between his dreams and his reality grows sharper by the day.
Jean-Pierre’s life has long been shaped by his friendship with Dock, an older figure who has served as both mentor and guide through Montreal’s more shadowed corners. Through this connection, Jean-Pierre has glimpsed a different way of surviving, one that operates by its own rules and offers temptations he cannot easily ignore. Dock’s influence opens doors — and perhaps leads down paths that Jean-Pierre never fully intended to walk. Meanwhile, other relationships pull at him, each demanding a version of himself he struggles to reconcile.
Into this complicated web steps Elizabeth, an Anglophone model whose beauty and free spirit captivate Jean-Pierre after a chance encounter on a commercial shoot. Their connection arrives freighted with unspoken tensions, cultural divides, and fundamentally different approaches to life and love. Elizabeth embodies a world of privilege and liberty that Jean-Pierre can observe but never fully claim, and his fascination with her reveals just how far he remains from the stability he craves.
As debts mount and pressures converge from every direction, Jean-Pierre finds himself torn between competing loyalties and desires. The prospect of escape — perhaps to some distant shore — beckons as a possible solution, but the cost of such dreams remains uncertain. In a story where class, language, and ambition collide, Jean-Pierre must decide what he is willing to risk, even as the consequences of that choice begin to take shape.
What Happens in The Apprentice?
The complete story of The Apprentice, from the first scene to the last, in 228 words (about 1 minute). Spoilers throughout. Names in the text link to 4 cast member pages.
Spoilers ahead
Jean-Pierre is a working-class young Francophone with big dreams, who lands under the tutelage of his older best friend, a con-man and bank robber named Dock, who begins teaching him the secrets of his trades and making him an accomplice in his crimes. He is dating Dock’s virginal sister, Suzanne, who is active in the Quebec separatist movement. To make ends meet, Jean-Pierre works a series of menial jobs.
During a cleanup on a commercial shoot, he meets Elizabeth Hawkins, a beautiful Anglophone model. After he is fired from the shoot for explaining the English meaning of the French name of the product she is supposed to be selling, she starts going out with him out of a sense of guilt, and they soon become lovers. However, she is a sexual libertine with no intention of being monogamous, and this soon strains their relationship.
Eventually, the strain of keeping up with his two girlfriends wears on him and he decides to break up with Elizabeth. His clumsy attempts to break up in English (of which he does not have fluent command) merely result in their spending the night together. He then decides to break up with Dock’s sister, who realizing that he is going back to Elizabeth because of their sexual relationship, throws herself at him.
Eventually, Jean-Pierre’s criminal activities catch up with him, and everything ends tragically.
The Apprentice Timeline: Every Key Event in Order
12 key events in the order they happen, from “Jean-Pierre meets Dock and begins apprenticeship” to “Everything ends tragically”. 10 events name a place, across 9 locations.
- 1
Jean-Pierre meets Dock and begins apprenticeship
Jean-Pierre, a working class Francophone with big dreams, is taken under the wing of his older best friend Dock, a con man and bank robber. Dock teaches him the tricks of the trade and makes him an accomplice in his crimes. The bond between them sets the tone for his future path into crime.
Where:Montreal, Quebec
- 2
Struggling worker by day and apprentice by night
To make ends meet, Jean-Pierre works a string of menial jobs while gradually learning the criminal world from Dock. He keeps one foot in honest work and the other in Dock's shadowy schemes. The line between respectability and crime begins to blur as he obsesses over making his mark.
Where:Montreal, Quebec
- 3
Romance with Dock's sister
Jean-Pierre begins dating Dock's sister, who is active in the Quebec separatist movement. The romance complicates his ties to Dock and pulls him deeper into a tense social circle. He finds himself juggling loyalties at home and in his criminal world.
Where:Dock's neighborhood, Montreal
- 4
Meeting Elizabeth on a film set
During a commercial shoot cleanup, Jean-Pierre meets Elizabeth, an Anglophone model whose beauty interrupts his ordinary life. He makes a blunt remark about the English meaning of a French product name and is fired for his honesty. Despite the setback, Elizabeth begins spending time with him out of guilt and the two soon become lovers.
Where:On a commercial shoot in Montreal
- 5
Elizabeth becomes his lover
Jean-Pierre and Elizabeth's affair grows, drawing him away from Dock's sister. Elizabeth embodies a freer, libertine world that contrasts with his evolving double life. The romance deepens the emotional stakes and widens the potential for betrayal.
Where:Elizabeth's circle, Montreal
- 6
Juggling two girlfriends
The strain of maintaining two relationships grows unbearable. He finds himself torn between Dock's sister and Elizabeth, each demanding time, affection, and secrecy. The double life becomes a burden that threatens to collapse all his connections.
Where:Montreal, varying locales
- 7
Failed breakup with Elizabeth
Seeking to end things with Elizabeth, Jean-Pierre attempts to break up in English, a language he does not speak fluently. The awkward breakup backfires, and the two end up spending the night together again. The mishandled break creates complications that ripple through all their relationships.
Where:Elizabeth's apartment, Montreal
- 8
Dock's sister confronts him
Dock's sister realizes that Jean-Pierre plans to return to Elizabeth and retaliates by throwing herself at him to win him back. The scene exposes the fragility of his relationships and the price of deceit. This confrontation intensifies the loyalty conflict within the trio.
Where:Dock's home
- 9
Criminal life catches up
Jean-Pierre's double life catches up with him as the consequences of his crimes threaten friends and family. The danger he courted with Dock grows more immediate, forcing hard decisions. Relationships suffer as the pressure mounts toward a reckoning.
Where:Montreal streets and hideouts
- 10
Rising tension leads to a crisis
The plot accelerates toward a breaking point as alliances fray and plans misfire. The fear of exposure and betrayal pushes Jean-Pierre toward a desperate choice. The crisis marks the transition from life on the edge to an irreversible outcome.
Where:Montreal and outskirts
- 11
Climax approaches
With danger closing in, the characters face the consequences of their deceit. The choices made under pressure culminate in a violent or tragic turn. The film builds toward a grim, inevitable ending.
- 12
Everything ends tragically
The double life collapses and Jean-Pierre pays the price for his ambitions. The ending delivers loss and a sobering meditation on loyalty and desire gone wrong. The narrative leaves a lasting impression of the cost of crime and broken trust.
Who Are the Main Characters in The Apprentice?
4 characters, among them Jean-Pierre Fortier (Steve Fiset), Elizabeth Hawkins (Susan Sarandon) and Dock (Jean-Pierre Cartier): who each one is and the part they play in the story. Every profile links to the actor’s page.
- JF
Jean-Pierre Fortier (Steve Fiset)
Played by Steve Fiset
A working-class Francophone youth with big dreams who falls under the tutelage of Dock. He becomes entangled in crime while juggling a love life between Elizabeth and Dock's sister. Language barriers and social pressures strain his relationships, and his choices lead toward a tragic ending. He is hopeful yet vulnerable, easily drawn into a dangerous path by those he trusts.
- 🎭 Drama
- 💼 Crime
- 🗣️ Language
-
Elizabeth Hawkins (Susan Sarandon)
Played by Susan Sarandon
An Anglophone model whose beauty hides a libertine approach to love, offering little loyalty or monogamy. Her relationship with Jean-Pierre begins from a sense of guilt but quickly becomes complicated by her non-committal attitude. Her presence destabilizes Jean-Pierre’s life and accelerates the strain between the two lovers. She embodies desire without attachment, contributing to the couple’s turbulence.
- 💃 Romance
- 🕶️ Glamour
- 🗣️ Language
- D(
Dock (Jean-Pierre Cartier)
Played by Jean-Pierre Cartier
A con-man and bank robber who serves as the mentor and antagonist to Jean-Pierre. He uses charm and manipulation to pull the younger man into crime, building a code of loyalty that is ultimately self-serving. His sister connection adds tension to the personal dynamics and fuels jealousy within the love triangle. He embodies a troubling blend of street-smarts and moral ambiguity.
- 💼 Crime
- 🧭 Mentor
- 🗣️ Manipulation
- S(
Suzanne (Carole Laure)
Played by Carole Laure
Dock’s virginal sister who is active in the Quebec separatist movement. She becomes part of the romantic web around Jean-Pierre, challenging his decisions and signaling the political dimension of the setting. Her presence adds a layer of intensity and competition as she perceives Jean-Pierre’s pull back toward Elizabeth. She embodies a blend of innocence and political passion that influences the story’s outcomes.
- 🎭 Drama
- 🗺️ Politics
- 💬 Romance
Where and When Is The Apprentice Set?
The Apprentice is set in Quebec and Canada. Here is why the place matters to the story.
Where
Quebec, Canada
Set in Quebec, the film unfolds in working-class urban spaces against the backdrop of the province's separatist movement. The milieu highlights linguistic and cultural tensions between Francophone locals and Anglophone outsiders. The setting is grounded in everyday jobs, social circles, and the crime-driven undercurrents that pull the characters into conflict.
- 🗺️ Quebec
- Canada
What Are the Themes of The Apprentice?
4 ideas the story keeps returning to, among them Love Betrayal, Crime Drama and Language Gap.
-
01
Love Betrayal
The story centers on a young man entangled with two women, testing loyalty and trust. Romantic entanglements become a pressure cooker for jealousy and heartbreak. As desires clash with reality, intentions blur and harm follows, culminating in a tragic outcome. The tension between affection and betrayal drives the emotional core of the narrative.
-
02
Crime Drama
A mentor-turned-con-man pulls the protagonist into a cycle of illicit schemes. The friendship between Jean-Pierre and Dock anchors the plot in schemes, double-crosses, and escalating risk. The allure of easy money clashes with the consequences of a life of crime. The narrative uses these criminal elements to explore fate, responsibility, and loss.
-
03
Language Gap
The dynamic between Francophone and Anglophone characters highlights communication barriers and cultural tension. Small misunderstandings in language reveal larger social divides and affect intimate relationships. The film uses dialogue and miscommunication to illustrate identity clashes within Quebec society. This tension amplifies personal insecurities and social risk.
-
04
Dreams
Jean-Pierre pursues big dreams beyond his working-class upbringing, hoping for a different future. Those ambitions intersect with romantic and criminal temptations, testing his resolve. The pursuit of advancement collides with harsh reality, revealing the fragility of dreams when faced with temptation. The narrative ultimately suggests that dreams can be crushed by choices and circumstances.
What Kind of Film Is The Apprentice?
Bittersweet in tone, with steady pacing and a moderate story, going by the plot summary.
- Tone
- Bittersweet
- Pacing
- Steady
- Story
- Moderate
- Intensity
- Medium
- Ending
- Sad
A bittersweet and steady-paced drama about a young man's struggle between love, crime, and desire, ultimately ending in tragic consequences from his reckless choices.
- tragic
- romantic
- restless
- conflicted
- free-spirited
- frustrating
- coming of age
- crime
- love triangle
- cultural clash
Content notes: crime, unwanted pregnancy.
