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The Son
2022 123 min Australia, France, United Kingdom PG-13 18+
★6.0
Drama
Director: Florian Zeller
🎭 Based on
«The Son»
byFlorian Zeller
Trailers
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Teaser
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Description
A successful lawyer, with a new wife and infant, agrees to care for his teenage son from a previous marriage after his ex-wife becomes concerned about the boy's wayward behavior.
US Gross:
$449,650
Worldwide:
$3.56M
Starring
Vanessa Kirby
Actor
Hugh Jackman
Actor
Laura Dern
Actor
Awards
Venice Film Festival 2022
— Golden Lion
Golden Globe 2023
— Best Actor (Drama)
Key opinion
The Son is a polarizing family drama that attempts to tackle the heavy subject of adolescent mental health through the lens of parental guilt and divorce. While some viewers find its unflinching, cautionary depiction of a failing support system devastating and emotionally resonant, others criticize the film for relying on formulaic storytelling and perceived manipulation.
| Acting | Hugh Jackman delivers a compelling and expressive performance that serves as the emotional anchor for the film. | |
| Production | The film utilizes visual techniques, such as distinct color palettes and careful framing, to effectively communicate the characters' feelings of isolation and domestic fracture. | |
| Score | The Hans Zimmer score successfully amplifies the teen’s inner turmoil and sense of alienation. | |
| Screenplay | The script is heavily debated: some praise its raw, cautionary nature regarding parental ignorance, while others dismiss it as clichéd, melodramatic, and lacking in psychological depth. | |
| Acting | Zen McGrath’s performance divides opinion, with some viewers finding him compellingly troubled and others viewing the character as irritating or implausible. | |
| Emotion | The film's tone is a subject of disagreement; while supporters feel the bleak, repetitive atmosphere highlights the tragedy of depression, detractors find it sterile, manipulative, and relentlessly depressing. |