The Son

Films/DVD Asylum

Movies from comedy to drama to your favorite Hollyweird Star.

I film written and directed by film making brothers Jean-Pierre Dardenne and Luc Dardenne starring Olivier Gourmet as a carpenter who teaches a trade to boys release from juvenile detention centers. Relative newcomer Morgan Marinne plays a young boy recently release from a juvenile facility for theft. Initially, Olivier (which is also his character's name) tells the young boy's teacher that he does not have room for another pupil. He then inexplicably follows the boy, watches him, then informs the teacher that he is will accept the boy into his class.
Why? Is he attracted to the boy? Does he really want to help the boy? Olivier plays his role so well, demonstrating little emotion, giving away nothing, that we are left pondering these questions as we watch. And there is nary a hint until the final minutes.
There is no plot to discuss. The writers are known for their documentaries, and the film plays like a documentary, as though we are watching real events, and not actors playing characters. Olivier apparently won the 2002 Cannes best actor award for this role. He is one of the few actors who can do so little, yet can draw the viewer into his character. There is very little dialog, and yet, for me, the film was never boring, because I felt as though I was watching something developing, though I never knew what that something was.
The ending supplies the answers and resolution, but not the drama that a comparable American film would have felt compelled to supply. While I do not disparage American films for the sake of doing so, vogue though it may be, a film like this demonstrates that foreign films are confident in their ability to entertain an audience without the need for fireworks, action, and endless dialog.
The film is character, little plot. It is for the viewer willing to go to the film, without the film coming to the viewer, if you know what I mean. If you are that viewer, then you will enjoy this little treasure.

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Topic - The Son - jamesgarvin 11:46:00 04/18/06 (0)

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