“Peter has his busy life with new partner Beth and their baby thrown into disarray when his ex-wife Kate turns up with their teenage son, Nicholas.” – IMDb
The Son (2022)
Starring
Zen McGrath, Laura Dern, Hugh Jackman, Vanessa Kirby, Felix Goddard, Max Goddard
Directed by
Florian Zeller
Box Office:
Review
I would first like to say, viewer discretion is advised for this film. Especially, if mental health and related topics are a sensitive topic for you/those watching. With that being said, if you can safely watch The Son without it becoming somewhat of a trigger, then please watch it.
As we watched it, I wondered aloud, “I wonder if this is linked/related to The Father“. Lo and behold- it is! Once this “clicked” in my brain, the storyline and actors make a lot more sense. However, you can watch both of them as independent films, as though they aren’t related. You don’t need to watch one before the other. Although, knowing that they are connected does help you to better understand the ways of the family and what else is happening in their lives.
Hugh Jackman, Laura Dern & Vanessa Kirby
An important part of this story, is the fact that Jackman and Dern (the Mother) are divorced; Vanessa Kirby’s character is the Stepmother. While it isn’t instantly clear what had happened between the Mother and Father, nor precisely when it occurred, it is clear that the family dynamic has gone through a bit of a loop. This applies in many ways.
For example, it is seen in how the Mom speaks with the Father, how the Stepmother doesn’t really know what her boundaries are (caring about the Son but also respecting his Mother’s wishes), how it’s incredibly easy to place the blame, etc. The whole situation, needless to say, is complicated. But, it’s real. I think everyone did a stellar job portraying the intricacies of the situation.
As always, Hugh Jackman (the Father) does an outstanding job in an emotional role. He’s an actor who shows his heart on his sleeve, and any inner turmoil is immediately apparent in his face. His contribution to The Son is no different. If you’re not a parent, you are easily put in the shoes of one due to Jackman’s performance. From the frustration of being unable to magically fix your child’s qualms, to questioning yourself and your parenting, you definitely feel conflicted.
Zen McGrath
I must commend McGrath for taking on such a role- I can’t imagine that it was easy. If nothing else, embodying so many emotions while also seeming to be so… “calm” is a feat in itself. (Those who’ve had experience with depression and/or related illnesses understand the disconnected form of calm I’m speaking of). I believe that McGrath achieved this while also being thoughtful. Which, I appreciate.
Having so little to say about his role/acting has nothing to do with his performance. It is simply more of a, “You need to see it for yourself”, situation. He truly does a good job considering the storyline.
Overall
The simplicity of The Son is beautiful, painful and meaningful in so many ways. It offers viewers an opportunity to think of the people in their lives who may be struggling with their mental health. It may even cause you to reassess every decision made pertaining to your/your loved one’s mental healthcare.
“Did I do the right thing when….?”, “Were there red flags that I missed?”, “What can I do to help?”, “What is the right way to go about X, Y, and Z?”…. Quite frankly, it makes you ask yourself many (sometimes unanswerable) questions.
Hospitalization, therapy, in-patient/out-patient, family dynamics, parenthood, it’s hard to keep track of all the ways this movie can tug at a person’s heartstrings. If the actors hadn’t done a good job, you would easily be able to shrug this movie off.
This is not the case.
There is one scene in specific, that involves Hugh Jackman thinking back on a memory of his Son on a beach; it’s hard for me to explain but you just feel it in your heart and bones. What is this “it” that you’re feeling? Well, think of one of your most special memories, of one of your most special days, in one of your most special of places. Add any and all of the heartbreak and/or sadness you’ve been keeping inside, and that’s as close to describing the scene as I can get.
I believe this film will stay with viewers for hours, if not days. Personally, I wanted to watch it again almost instantly. However, I knew my heart needed a break; for the sake of my own mental health, I’m leaving this on my To Watch Again list instead.
If you, or someone you know needs support, do not hesitate to call today. Here are a few resources for worldwide care.
Related to The Son:
The Father (2020) Movie Review