You Will Be My Son (French: Tu seras mon fils), 2011
Directed by Gilles Legrand.
Starring Niels Arestrup, Lorant Deutsch, Patrick Chesnais, Anne Marivan, Nicolas Bridet and Valerie Mairesse.
SYNOPSIS:
Paul de Marseul (Arestrup) is a prestigious but aging wine-maker whose son Martin (Deutsch) lacks talent or indeed the will to succeed him. When Philippe (Bridet) returns to visit his dying father François (Patrick Chesnais), Paul attempts to make Philippe his successor.
I can’t say I’m a very big French film fan. I can name two French language films that I can clearly recall, Amelie and La Haine. Both of those I very much enjoyed, but they didn’t convert me and nor did I seek out more. Going by You Will Be My Son I am unsure why I don’t. This is now “3 for 3” on watching French films that I have enjoyed.
The film starts with Paul de Marseul’s friend and long-time caretaker of the vineyard François (Chesnais) falling prey to pancreatic cancer. When Paul hears this his main concern is the harvest. Martin, Paul’s son, steps up to the mark to show his father he can achieve if allowed to try. Martin is more than aware that his father considers him to be a disappointment, though for no rhyme or reason.
François calls his son, Philippe, in America to tell him about his cancer but does not have the heart to do so. Paul seizes on this as his opening move in a selfish attempt at keeping the vineyard in the family name. We watch Paul constantly pick at his son Martin like a Carrion bird at a carcass, from making him believe a piece of machinery can be fixed (when it can’t) to he being the reason his mother died (he wasn’t), and at the same time showering Philippe with praise and gifts (2000 Euro shoes to attemp to adopt him).
You despise Paul when you see his wants come to light and the moves he makes to get them in order to follow the path he is trying to beat out with neither subtlety nor with compassion. An excellent film and even my fifteen year old daughter liked it (subtitles and all).
Flickering Myth Rating – Film: ★ ★ ★ ★ / Movie: ★ ★ ★ ★
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Originally published April 29, 2013. Updated April 11, 2018.
