The Childhood of a Leader

In 1919, an American boy arrives in the tranquil French countryside with his father, a diplomatic figure involved in the complex negotiations of the Treaty of Versailles. He is accompanied by his German-born mother, marking the beginning of their temporary stay in this picturesque yet politically charged landscape.

After a chaotic rehearsal for a church pageant, the boy's frustration peaks as he throws rocks at the local children and their parents. This explosive reaction compels him to escape into the nearby woods, seeking solace away from the tensions surrounding him.

Upon returning from his escape, the boy finds his father drinking with a family friend, Charles Marker. Reluctantly, he approaches the townsfolk to apologize for his earlier outburst, maintaining a defiant attitude but ultimately receiving their forgiveness.

His mother, fluent in French, hires a tutor named Ada to assist the boy with his studies, despite her insistence that he only speak English with her. As he begins lessons, unexpected emotions arise when he witnesses an intimate moment between his father and Ada, sowing seeds of jealousy.

During a lesson with Ada, the boy inappropriately touches her, creating an uncomfortable atmosphere that leaves her disturbed. Despite this transgression, Ada chooses to remain silent about the incident, protecting the boy from his mother's potential wrath.

As tensions rise within the household, the father begins to lose faith in the treaty negotiations and has secretive meetings with aides. A misunderstanding leads one aide to think the boy is a girl, prompting the boy to strip and retreat into his room for several days.

In an attempt to teach him a lesson, the boy's mother tries to starve him out of his room. However, he secretly receives food from Mona, the housekeeper, who helps him survive his mother's harsh methods until she is dismissed after being discovered.

Isolated in his room, the boy dedicates his time to studying French, striving for mastery. After extensive practice, he performs a recitation for his mother and Ada, demonstrating his progress while requesting to dismiss Ada for further solitary study.

An explosive confrontation occurs when the boy's father comes home to find an upsetting scene featuring his wife and Charles Marker. The father's anger escalates as he discovers his son undressed, resulting in a violent exchange that leaves the boy injured.

To celebrate the signing of the Treaty of Versailles, the family hosts a small dinner gathering. During this event, the father requests the mother to pray, which the boy defiantly refuses, leading to further chaos as he lashes out and unintentionally injures himself.

In a moment of panic after the dinner party debacle, the boy escapes the chaotic scene and finds himself in a vulnerable state. It is then that he encounters Charles Marker, who offers him comfort and reassurance, contrasting the turmoil at home.

Fast forward several decades, the boy, now named Prescott, has risen to power as a military leader in an authoritarian regime. The crowds adore him, and his persona bears a stunning resemblance to that of his biological father, Charles Marker, creating an eerie connection to his past.