The Son (2022 film): Difference between revisions - Wikipedia

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{{Short description|Film directed by Florian Zeller}}

{{Use American English|date=December 2022}}

{{Use mdy dates|date=December 2022}}

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* [[Anthony Hopkins]]

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| cinematography = [[Ben Smithard]]

| editing = [[Yorgos Lamprinos]]

| music = [[Hans Zimmer]]

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* [[Sony Pictures Classics]] (United States)

* [[UGC Distribution]] (France)

* [[STX Entertainment#STX Films|STX Films]]<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.bbfc.co.uk/release/the-son-q29sbgvjdglvbjpwwc0xmda4mzky |title=The Son (2022) |publisher=[[British Board of Film Classification]] |access-date=9 March 2023}}</ref> (United Kingdom)

* [[Black Bear Pictures]]<ref name="bbuk">{{cite web|title=Black Bear Hires Luane Gauer As SVP International Production & Acquisitions|website=[[Deadline Hollywood]]|first=Melanie|last=Goodfellow|date=7 February 2023|access-date=26 June 2023|url=https://deadline.com/2023/02/black-bear-international-hires-luane-gauer-as-svp-international-production-and-acquisitions-1235252103/amp/}}</ref> (United Kingdom)

}}

| released = {{Film date|df=yes|2022|9|7|[[79th Venice International Film Festival|Venice]]|2023|1|20|United States|2023|2|17|United Kingdom|2023|3|1|France}}

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| language = English

| budget =

| gross = $3.26 million<ref>{{cite BOM |id=14458442 |title=The Son (2022) |access-date=17 February 2023}}</ref>

}}

'''''The Son''''' is a 2022 [[Drama (film and television)|drama]] film]] directed by [[Florian Zeller]] from a screenplay written by himself and [[Christopher Hampton]]. It is based on Zeller's [[The Son (Zeller play)|Zeller's 2018 stage play of the same name]]. [[Anthony Hopkins]] has a minor appearance in this film playing the main character's father (but a different character from Zeller's previous film). The film stars [[Hugh Jackman]], [[Laura Dern]], [[Vanessa Kirby]], Zen McGrath, [[Hugh Quarshie]], and [[Anthony Hopkins]].

''The Son'' had its world premiere at the [[79th Venice International Film Festival]] on 7 September 2022, and was released for a one-week [[limited theatrical release]] in [[New York City]] and [[Los Angeles]] on 25 November 2022, before a wide release in the United States on 20 January 2023 by [[Sony Pictures Classics]]. The film received mixed reviews from critics, though Jackman's performance received praise. At the [[80th Golden Globe Awards]] and [[27th Satellite Awards]], Jackman was nominated for Best Actor in a Motion Picture – Drama.

==Plot==

Peter Miller ([[Hugh Jackman]]) is recently married to his second wife, Beth ([[Vanessa Kirby]]), and is raising their newborn sonbaby. His ex-wife, Kate ([[Laura Dern]]), unexpectedly shows up and says their 17-year-old son, Nicholas (Zen McGrath), is [[Major depressive disorder|depressed]] and has dropped out of school. Although Peter barely knows Nicholas, he agrees to house him. Peter has a terrible relationship with his own father ([[Anthony Hopkins]]), who was cruel when he wasn't absent from Peter's life. However, Peter has moved on from his [[childhood trauma]] and hopes to be a good father to Nicholas.

Although Peter barely knows Nicholas, he agrees to house him. Peter also has a terrible relationship with his own father, Anthony, who was cruel when he wasn't absent from Peter's life. However, Peter has moved on from his [[childhood trauma]] and hopes to be a good father to Nicholas.

Peter refuses to acknowledge that he has deeply wounded Nicholas by [[Infidelity|cheating]] on Kate. But when Nicholas attempts [[suicide]] and is placed in an in-patient [[Residential treatment center#Children and teens|treatment facility]], Peter belatedly grasps his responsibility for the situation.▼

▲Despite trying to bond with Nicholas, Peter refuses to acknowledge that he has deeply wounded Nicholashim by [[Infidelity|cheating]] on Kate. But when Nicholas attempts [[suicide]] and is placed in an in-patient [[Residential treatment center#Children and teens|treatment facility]], Peter belatedly grasps his responsibility for the situation.

Peter and Kate bring Nicholas home a week later after feeling sympathetic to his pleas that he regrets the decisions that led to the facility. Once back home, Nicholas makes tea for his parents and happily talks about seeing a movie as a family. As he leaves to shower and his parents discuss how things seem better, Nicholas shoots himself. Peter fantasizes about what life would be like had Nicholas lived.▼

▲A week later, Peter and Kate bring Nicholas home a week later after feeling sympathetic to his pleas that he regrets the decisions that led to the facility. Once back home, Nicholas makes tea for his parents and happily talks about seeing a movie as a family. As he leaves to shower and his parents discuss how things seem better, Nicholas shoots himself dead. Traumatized by his son’s suicide, years later Peter fantasizes about what Nicholas' life wouldcould behave been like hadif Nicholashe had lived. Beth comforts him while he expresses guilt and remorse, and blames himself for the tragedy.

==Cast==

* [[Hugh Jackman]] as Peter Miller

* [[Laura Dern]] as Kate Miller, Peter’s ex-wife

* [[Vanessa Kirby]] as Beth, Peter's second wife

* Zen McGrath as Nicholas Miller, Peter's estranged son who is struggling with [[Major depressive disorder|depression]].

** George Cobell as young Nicholas Miller

* [[Hugh Quarshie]] as DoctorDr. Harris, Nicholas' therapist

* [[Anthony Hopkins]] as Anthony Miller, Peter's father and Nicholas' grandfather.

* [[Gretchen Egolf]] as ER Psychiatrist

==Production==

During an interview via [[Zoom (software)|Zoom]] after the [[93rd Academy Awards]] nominations were announced, director/writer [[Florian Zeller]] revealed to ''[[Deadline Hollywood]]'' that he was finishing up an adaptation of one of his plays titled ''The Son''.<ref>{{cite web |last=Blyth |first=Antonia |date=15 March 2021 |title=Oscar-Nominated 'The Father' Director Florian Zeller Has Next Adaptation 'The Son' in the Works |url=https://deadline.com/2021/03/oscar-nominations-the-father-florian-zeller-interview-the-son-1234714776/ |access-date=15 March 2021 |website=[[Deadline Hollywood]] |language=en-US}}</ref> In April 2021, [[Hugh Jackman]] and [[Laura Dern]] were cast to star in the film.<ref>{{cite web |last=Wiseman |first=Andreas |date=14 April 2021 |title=Hugh Jackman & Laura Dern to Star in Florian Zeller's 'The Son', See-Saw to Produce Follow-Up to Oscar-Nominee 'The Father' |url=https://deadline.com/2021/04/hugh-jackman-laura-dern-the-son-father-florian-zeller-follow-up-1234734035/ |access-date=14 April 2021 |website=[[Deadline Hollywood]] |language=en-US}}</ref> In June 2021, [[Vanessa Kirby]] joined the cast of the film.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://variety.com/2021/film/news/vanessa-kirby-florian-zeller-the-son-1234992362/ |title=Vanessa Kirby Joins Hugh Jackman, Laura Dern in Florian Zeller's 'The Son' (EXCLUSIVE) |website=[[Variety (magazine)|Variety]] |first1=Elsa |last1=Keslassy |first2=Matt |last2=Donnelly |date=28 June 2021 |access-date=16 August 2021}}</ref>

[[Principal photography]] began in August 2021.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.instagram.com/p/CSpQFYRgFsd/ |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/iarchive/s/instagram/CSpQFYRgFsd |archive-date=26 December 2021 |url-access=registration |title=Today was the first shooting day of #theson with the wonderful @vanessa__kirby and @thehughjackman @sonyclassics @orangestudiofr @see_saw_films |publisher=[[Instagram]] |first=Florian |last=Zeller |date=16 August 2021 |access-date=16 August 2021}}{{cbignore}}</ref> As of October 2021, production had concluded. It was reported [[Anthony Hopkins]] and Zen McGrath had also joined the cast, the former of whom is reuniting with Zeller after working on ''[[The Father (2020 film)|The Father]]'' (2020), for which he won the [[Academy Award for Best Actor]].<ref name="Hopkins">{{Cite web |last=Grater |first=Tom |date=11 October 2021 |title=Florian Zeller's 'The Son' Sells Out Globally; Anthony Hopkins & Zen McGrath Join Cast |url=https://deadline.com/2021/10/florian-zellers-the-son-sells-out-globally-embankment-cross-city-1234853867/ |url-status=live |access-date=11 October 2021 |website=[[Deadline Hollywood]] |language=en-US}}</ref>

==Release==

In July 2021, [[Sony Pictures Classics]] acquired distribution rights to the film.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://deadline.com/2021/07/sony-pictures-classics-teams-again-with-oscar-winner-florian-zeller-for-the-son-1234787528/ |title=Sony Pictures Classics Teams Again with Oscar Winner Florian Zeller for 'The Son' |website=[[Deadline Hollywood]] |first=Anthony |last=D'Alessandro |date=7 July 2021 |access-date=16 August 2021}}</ref> [[STX Entertainment]] claimed the distribution rights for the UK, Benelux, Italy, Scandinavia and Iceland that same month.<ref name="Hopkins"/> Despite STX's main international office in London shutting down,<ref>{{cite web |title=STX to begin winding down UK office |website=[[Screen International#Screen Daily (website)|Screen Daily]] |first=Jeremy |last=Kay |date=29 July 2022 |access-date=9 March 2023 |url=https://www.screendaily.com/news/stx-to-begin-winding-down-uk-office-exclusive/5173047.article}}</ref> the company managed to release the film in the aforementioned territories, with [[Black Bear Pictures]] co-distributing the film in the UK.

The film had its world premiere in- competition at the [[79th Venice International Film Festival]] on 7 September 2022.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.labiennale.org/en/cinema/2022/venezia-79-competition/son |title=Biennale Cinema 2022 {{!}} The Son |publisher=[[Venice Biennale|La Biennale di Venezia]] |access-date=30 August 2022}}</ref> Its North American premiere took place at the [[2022 Toronto International Film Festival|Toronto International Film Festival]] that same month on 12 September 2022.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://tiff.net/events/the-son |title=The Son}}</ref> It also screened at the 2022 [[American Film Institute#AFI Fest|AFI Fest]] on 5 November 2022.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://deadline.com/2022/09/afi-fest-2022-red-carpet-movies-list-lineup-1235122945/ |title=AFI Fest Adds 'Bardo', 'The Son', 'She Said', 'Guillermo del Toro's Pinocchio', More to Red Carpet Lineup |first=Patrick |last=Hipes |website=[[Deadline Hollywood]] |date=20 September 2022 |access-date=20 September 2022}}</ref> The film was initially scheduled for a [[limited theatrical release|limited release]] in the United States on 11 November 2022, with expansions in the following weeks,<ref>{{cite web |url=https://deadline.com/2022/08/sony-pictures-classics-fall-release-dates-shoemaker-of-dreams-the-son-hugh-jackman-laura-dern-living-turn-every-page-1235089030/ |title=Sony Classics Sets Release Dates for Hugh Jackman-Laura Dern Drama 'The Son' & Four Others |website=[[Deadline Hollywood]] |first=Jill |last=Goldsmith |date=10 August 2022 |access-date=10 August 2022}}</ref> before its limited release was shifted to 25 November.<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://www.boxofficemojo.com/release/rl3167912705/?ref_=bo_rs_table_26 |title=The Son |publisher=[[Box Office Mojo]] |access-date=15 October 2022}}</ref><ref>{{cite tweet |number=1582023741231362048 |title=From the Academy Award®-winning writer/director of THE FATHER, #TheSon opens November 25 in NY & LA. Coming soon to a theater near you. |user=sonyclassics |author=[[Sony Pictures Classics]] |date=17 October 2022 |access-date=17 October 2022}}</ref> Its US limited release was later shifted again to a one-week engagement from 25 November, only in limited [[New York City]] and [[Los Angeles]] theaters, before a nationwide release on 20 January 2023.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.screendaily.com/news/spc-turns-the-son-november-release-into-one-week-qualifying-run/5176587.article |title=SPC turns 'The Son' November release into one-week qualifying run |last=Kay |first=Jeremy |website=[[Screen International#Screen Daily (website)|Screen Daily]] |date=17 November 2022 |access-date=19 November 2022}}</ref> Although initially planned for 8 March 2023, the film was released in France on 1 March 2023.<ref>{{cite web |last=Colon |first=Tanguy |title=UGC Distribution avance la sortie de ''The Son'' |url=https://www.boxofficepro.fr/ugc-distribution-avance-la-sortie-de-the-son/ |website=[[Boxoffice Pro]] |access-date=4 March 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221103161315/https://www.boxofficepro.fr/ugc-distribution-avance-la-sortie-de-the-son/ |archive-date=3 November 2022 |language=fr-FR |date=3 November 2022 |url-status=live}}</ref>

==Reception==

On [[Rotten Tomatoes]], the film holds an approval rating of 29%, based on 178182 reviews, with an average rating of 4.89/10. The website's consensus reads: "Despite reliably solid work from Laura Dern and Hugh Jackman, ''The Son'' remains mired in off-puttingly aggressive melodrama."<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/the_son |title=The Son (2022) |publisher=[[Rotten Tomatoes]] |access-date=11 March 2023}}</ref> [[Metacritic]] assigned the film a weighted average score of 45 out of 100, based on 46 critics, indicating "mixed or average reviews".<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.metacritic.com/movie/the-son-2022 |title=The Son (2022) Reviews |publisher=[[Metacritic]] |access-date=25 January 2023}}</ref>

===Accolades===

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! scope="col"| Recipient

! scope="col"| Result

! scope="col" class="unsortable"| {{Ref.|Reference(s)Refh}}

|-

! scope="row"| [[AACTA Awards#2011–present: AACTA Awards|AACTA International Awards]]

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| [[Satellite Award for Best Actor – Motion Picture|Best Actor in a Motion Picture – Drama]]

| {{nom}}

| align="center"| <ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.pressacademy.com/2022-nomineeswinners/ |title=2022 AwardeesWinners |publisher=[[International Press Academy]] |access-date=18 March 2023}}</ref>

|-

! scope="row"| [[Venice Film Festival|Venice International Film Festival]]

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==External links==

* {{IMDb title|14458442}}

{{Florian Zeller}}

{{Christopher Hampton}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Son, The}}

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[[Category:French films based on plays]]

[[Category:Sony Pictures Classics films]]

[[Category:FrenchFilm4 prequelProductions films]]▼

[[Category:BritishSee-Saw prequelFilms films]]▼

[[Category:Films directed by Florian Zeller]]

[[Category:Films with screenplays by Christopher Hampton]]

[[Category:Films scored by Hans Zimmer]]

[[Category:American prequel films]]

▲[[Category:British prequel films]]

▲[[Category:French prequel films]]

[[Category:2020s British films]]

[[Category:2020s French films]]

[[Category:2020s American films]]

▲[[Category:American2020s prequelEnglish-language films]]

[[Category:Films about suicide]]

[[Category:English-language French films]]

[[Category:English-language drama films]]

[[Category:Films based on works by Florian Zeller]]

[[Category:British films set in New York City]]