Toronto, 1899. Aspiring young politician Mackenzie King (Dan Beirne) dreams of becoming the Prime Minister of Canada. But his romantic vacillation between a British soldier and a French nurse, exacerbated by a fetishistic obsession, may well bring about his downfall. In his quest for power, King must gratify the expectations of his imperious Mother, the hawkish fantasies of a war-mongering Governor-General, and the utopian idealism of a Québécois mystic before facing one, final test of leadership. Culminating in an epic battle between good and evil, King learns that disappointment may be the defining characteristic of the twentieth century!
“[A] combination of supreme creativity, jaw-dropping audacity and amusing tongue-in-cheek dialogue.” — Variety “Feel[s] like both a throwback to an MGM weepie and a colorized acid trip through historic hell.” — The Hollywood ReporterMusic Box Theatre screens films of all genres and from every era of cinema, both new releases and repertory. These films may sometimes contain upsetting, outdated, or offensive material. While we aim to introduce many of our screenings, we do not always provide warnings about potentially triggering content within the films we screen. We encourage our patrons to research the film before they attend using trailers, reviews, or content information found on Common Sense Media, IMDb and DoesTheDogDie.com.
Now Showing
September 7 – September 14 / View All
NOIR CITY: Chicago 2026
The Late Show
Indoor Kids: Family-Friendly Matinees
Merciless Mayhem: Martial Arts Midnights, Matinees, & More!
The Chicago Film Society Presents