French playwright turned Academy Award-winning filmmaker Florian Zeller has crafted an emotionally devastating prequel to his critically-acclaimed drama film The Father starring Anthony Hopkins. Adapted from yet another one of his plays Le Fils – which forms a trilogy alongside Le Pere and The Mother – based on the trailer alone, The Son promises a career-best performance from Australia’s own Hugh Jackman.
The Son follows 17-year-old Nicholas (Zen McGrath) who, years after his parents’ divorce, no longer wishes to live with his mother Kate (Laura Dern). Soon after, the troubled youth moves in with his father Peter (Hugh Jackman) and Peter’s new family: partner Beth (Vanessa Kirby) and their infant son.
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Juggling his career, his new baby with Beth, and the offer of his dream job in Washington, Peter attempts to care for Nicholas as he wishes his own father Anthony (Sir Anthony Hopkins) had cared for him, breaking the cycle of generational trauma.
But this proves to be a rather complicated task as Nicholas becomes overcome with clinical depression. And by reaching for the past to correct its mistakes, Peter loses sight of how to hold onto the Nicholas in the present.
While we’ve already flagged Jackman’s performance as a potential highlight – something which earned the attention of critics after the film had its world premiere at the 79th Venice International Film Festival – Hopkin’s venomous portrayal of Anthony is something else we’re looking forward to.
The man only had a single line in the entire trailer (trailer timestamp 1:28), but the delivery hints at something that’ll prove to be well worth the price of admission.
“You came to tell me what a good dad you are. What do you want, applause?”
In addition to being written and directed by Florian Zeller, The Son features cinematography by Ben Smithard (The Trip, Downton Abbey) and music by the inimitable Hans Zimmer. All in all, it’s certainly one to keep an eye out for.
The Son is scheduled to hits theatres on November 25th – check out the trailer above.
