Partisan should had been a much better film with a smarter script and better director. It is a dark brooding drama heightened by Vincent Cassell's simmering performance of underlying menace.

Cassell plays Gregori as a modern day Fagin. He operates a commune in an isolated decaying part of town that consists of single mothers raising children. Gregori is the father figure in this self sustaining commune but it not all hippyish ideals with the community raising their own livestock and vegetables.

Gregori is operating the kids as assassins and robbers, these young people are killers including 11 year old Alexander (Jeremy Chabriel) who starts to question Gregori's authority and his way of life. Another boy Leo flouts the rules of the commune especially when he refuses to eat chickens and then disappears along with his mother.

Partisan is about Gregori trying not to lose control, a cult leader who is just another criminal gang leader using child assassins. I can see Partisan attracting a cult reputation with its moody tone but it feels underwritten, the characters and plot needed to be fleshed out.

Colorfully decorated sets and Art-Design paint a cheerfully bleak existence of a "Family" of self isolated misfits and victims of a larger Society that have isolated themselves from the "Hurt" of reality.

Likable but verging on insanity, charming like most Cult-Leaders, Vincent Cassel is slowly shown to be a manipulative maniac giving refuge to single Women with Children. What transpires is a depressing scenario.

This offbeat, low-budget Australian Movie has Philosophical, Psychological, and Societal things on its mind and delivers engaging but erratic implications of the Human condition, its strengths and shortcomings.

Worth a watch for its Artistry but the deep subject matter is never fully thought out and seems a shortcut with its ambiguous storytelling. Much needed background to make it convincing and insightful is never supplied to the viewer and that does this ambitious little Film a disservice.

Because in the end the extremely interesting and always good to look at Movie is big on display but does not have what is most needed in this type of thing, information for involvement.

I've seen this movie a few times and each time I'm more troubled and impressed. It appears to be about an independent community, certainly a cult but ALL I see is a rare and brilliant reflection about religions. It may have not been intended this way but this is my perception. I can hear your bashing but I have to say it: central figure demanding total submission from the parishioners, total control of the leader, believe and don't research, ideological excuses for horrific crimes against disobedient parishioners and humans, second rank status for women, lies, fabricated reality, extreme manipulation, polygamy, pure deprivation and no moral standards, etc.The movie show them all in a very subtle but direct way. he casting is amazing. Jeremy's instinctive resilience to the abuse is unique and central to the movie. Movies are supposed to make you feel and think and not offer you on a plate solutions and closure. So-called critics: shush! It may be just my pre-disposition for deeper analysis and thoughts but the link to my reality is so strong and I can't ignore it. On top of my preferences and I've seen thousands (I have a taste for movies that really say something meaningful about the human nature). Be gentle!