THE SON - Fan Page

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Maybe not too early to set up this page?


From Variety's Senior Film Editor ( he interviewed Florian Zeller in Paris) --

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From a film buff --

Review is translated to English --

TIFF 22: "The Son" with Hugh Jackman

The renowned Toronto International Film Festival (TIFF), which celebrated its 47th edition this year, managed (with some issues along the way) to welcome back its audience, press, industry and talent, in its first all-in-person festival since COVID hit in 2020.

In my second consecutive year covering the festival, I had the opportunity to see a total of 16 films and among them is the film "The Son", starring Hugh Jackman with Laura Dern.

Toronto International Film Festival 2022

Here's my first reaction to "The Son" along with footage from their TIFF performance:

The Son

Synopsis: Peter has his busy life with his new partner Beth and their baby in disarray when his ex-wife Kate shows up with their teenage son, Nicholas.

First reaction: "The Son" is not "The Father" (2020), but there's no denying how director Florian Zeller managed to beautifully recreate another film that sheds light on natural human conditions. In this case following a teenager's depression and how their parents try to understand what is happening to their own child. In this installment it is the performances of Hugh Jackman and Vanessa Kirby that really shine, and the important, impactful and powerful messages that are presented here will surely leave the audience very emotional at the end of it. I really liked the twists and turns of the previous installment and how the production design also played a very important role in that film. In this case, all the twists that occur mostly in the third act are ridiculously predictable and when that happens it takes me completely out of the movie. All the signs are clear, so you are only left with the option of sympathizing with parents who are going through a difficult time that no one would like to go through but that for some is a sad reality.

Prediction for 2023 Oscar nominations: Hugh Jackman for Best Actor, Vanessa Kirby as Supporting Actress and Best Adapted Screenplay.

The film will premiere at Fine Arts on November 24.

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A reaction from Toronto --

rea_nolan
I was there for the première, the audience seemed to embrace this film in ways I could never have predicted. There was a lot of love and introspection in the crowd around me. Conversations in the halls went on for long periods. Bravo à l'équipe and all the best to The Son for its life in the outside world. xo

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This is a review on IMDB --

FEATURED REVIEW
10
/10
Amazing film. Must see for all couples

I saw it yesterday the Zürich Film Festival. It shook me to my foundation. It was like looking in the mirror for two hours. My own position in life: twice divorced successful father with four children, the way the son in the film looks, behaves, and even his passion - writing are strikingly similar to my younger son, now 27. I felt like someone recorded conversations with my children and spouses. It is word to word... The successful father is a curse for his children, or can be... The father of the father in the film is very much like my late father was. The mother in the film is exactly like both of my ex-spouses.

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Re The Son -- it is probably best seen by more mature and more sophisticated people in general. Sadly, many who have seen it had different expectations from the movie, it seemed. Many wanted a movie like The Father which was a dramatic portrayal of an elderly person going through phases of dementia. THE SON was never meant to be a parallel cinematic treatment, based on interviews with Florian Zeller.


*The teenage market only wants to see how someone descends to full depression, so it can be relatable to them. Some may even be suffering from the mental illness. Although they can act as part of the group that can help someone who is depressed as this is a serious adolescent problem

*It is the parents who are the best market for this film. Most of them do not know how to handle the problem. Some may dismiss it as simply an adolescent phase. Or being afflicted by normal problems encountered by the young ( bullying, peer pressure, parental expectations, self-worth failure, etc)? Or parental neglect? Whatever it is, the film opens their eyes on what parents can or must do or must not do!

*Medical practitioners can validate the good things or mistakes that people around someone who is depressed may have made.

*Society in general will benefit from an eye-opener movie like this - on how to deal with someone who is undergoing this
descent into mental illness...and can start talking about the issues and potential steps that can help address the health issue. Or building awareness of a societal problem.

It is a conversation starter. Not an appeal for sympathy. But a way to find solutions if one is confronted by the issue of seeing someone one loves go down the road to mental illness.


Just some food for thought.

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Letterboxd — Your life in film

Review by filmqueer
The Son 2022 ★★★★
Watched Oct 10, 2022

filmqueer’s review published on Letterboxd:
London Film Festival 2022

Heartbreaking in its visceral portrayal of the vicious cycle of parenthood and all the guilt, responsibility, helplessness, and love that comes with it. While not as refined in its execution as its predecessor, the film resonated with me a lot more than THE FATHER.

Along with his turn in BAD EDUCATION, this is peak Hugh Jackman!

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Will the group of Jackman, Dern, Kirby, McGrath & Hopkins make to a nomination for SAF-AFTRA BEST ENSEMBLE acting honors?


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SPOILER
SPOILER
SPOILER

The spoiler has been mentioned in many articles and is all over the place.

This is a very insightful thread --

Thread
See new Tweets
Conversation
Quoth the Raven 🦇
@raventbrunner
·
49m
I’ve been working on not oversharing on social media, but I think most people know my situation and I trust my little Twitter community.

So, I want to talk about The Son. I’ve read multiple reviews today that have blamed the protagonist’s loved ones for his suicidal ideation.



Quoth the Raven 🦇
@raventbrunner
·
48m
This narrative is so very complex and can’t be given justice through a Twitter thread or a simple film critique.

But here’s a reductive version: Unless you *actively* assist in someone’s suicidal attempt, you are not responsible for their actions.



Quoth the Raven 🦇
@raventbrunner
·
48m
Examples of actively assisting would be emotionally or physically abusing someone or giving them the tools/resources to kill themselves or worsen their mental illness.

It doesn’t matter how many warning signs there are.


Quoth the Raven 🦇
@raventbrunner
·
48m
People who are suicidal or struggling with mental illness can be very manipulative, and often those who support them are very vulnerable and desperate to help.

My mom was a raging alcoholic and managed to convince me on multiple occasions to check her out of rehab early.


Quoth the Raven 🦇
@raventbrunner
·
48m
And yes, I was still hurt and shocked when she died of an intentional overdose.

As film critics, we have to be careful with our words, and the crass way some critics have been passing judgement on the characters in The Son and their actions is pushing a very harmful narrative.



Quoth the Raven 🦇
@raventbrunner
·
48m
Suicide is the 12th leading cause of death in the US and nearly 800,000 people die from suicide per year. All, if not most, of those people had loved ones.

And, a lot of those people are probably still hurting themselves enough that they don’t need you to pass judgement on them.



Quoth the Raven 🦇
@raventbrunner
All this isn’t to say that you can’t critique this movie. Sure, go nuts. I don’t care. But if your only critique is “I’d handle the situation differently/better than the protagonists,” then please know, you should get your head out of your ass (said respectfully).

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Above tweeter is a staff writer for the film blog DECIDER.

Also -- a response to part of her tweets --

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The film is not supposed to be a full-on journey to full depression and an even sadder ending.

The focus is both the subject and people around him who try but may be unable to prevent the sad ending. I think it tries to give the same story of mental illness but focuses on the drama of how a family reacts when confronted with such a serious issue.


Sadly some reader reviews I have read seem to think that this movie will help them cure of their depression.

Wrong premise. It is a movie about the family drama that surrounds someone who goes through this mental illness. It aims for an understanding of the entire familial drama -- so if there are any positive steps towards addressing the issue of mental illness, there is a broader and deeper understanding that the solution will not lie with the person concerned alone, but is better addressed when taken with the broader concept of how mental illness is addressed by the family or persons close to the person with depression.

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