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The Son Reviews

2002

60
from 2239 members

Olivier, a carpenter who teaches his craft to teenagers become obsessed with a new student, Francis. The reason for his obsession soon becomes apparent... Read more

Starring	Olivier Gourmet, Morgan Marinne, Isabella Soupart
Director	Jean-Pierre Dardenne, Luc Dardenne
Genres	Drama, World Cinema

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Critic's review of The Son
View all critics' reviews (5)
- "There are few filmmakers today for whom moviemaking is as deeply moral an enterprise as it is for Jean-Pierre and Luc Dardenne....[A] powerful new film..."
- 11591
- - Los Angeles Times
  - 11 Mar 2005 at 12:59
Write your own review »
Most helpful member's review of The Son
View all members' reviews (55)
- - 26
  - 1
  All should see it!!!
  
  The directors of 'The Son' brothers Jeane-Pierre and Luc Dardenne, are together experienced documentarians. This is made explicitly clear in the film&#... read more »
  
  Report this review
- 350295
- [Highly rated reviewer]
  - AngrySloucher
  - Norfolk
  - 06 Oct 2005 at 13:53
Most recent members' reviews of The Son
View all members' reviews (55)
- - 0
  - 0
  Bad subtitles
  
  Read a good review but the English subtitles were perfunctory or non-existent so unless you understand French it'll be a big disappointment.
  
  Report this review
- 1037756
- - a customer
  - 06 Sep 2011 at 21:49
- - 0
  - 0
  The Son
  
  Excellent film, acting let it down at times and lots of missed opportunities to make it a really memorable experience. Having said that its well worth watching... read more »
  
  Report this review
- 994465
- - a customer
  - 18 May 2011 at 21:42
- - 0
  - 0
  low budget drama with unexpected twist
  
  It seems that Olivier Gourmet is in nearly every French film I see these days. He is very good and the most unactorlike actor. He reminds you of a working class... read more »
  
  Report this review
- 982033
- - MikeLaughton
  - 89 reviews
  - Oakham,England
  - 13 Apr 2011 at 17:12
- - 0
  - 0
  A powerful but subtle film
  
  This is an unusual and understated film, brilliantly shot (mainly from the point of view of the principal character). It deals with potentially explosive issues... read more »
  
  Report this review
- 971831
- - a customer
  - Crowborough
  - 10 Mar 2011 at 21:18
- - 0
  - 0
  The Son
  
  Beautifully crafted, serious film-making.
  
  Should be compulsory viewing for everyone in Hollywood - this is how to tell a story in film.
  
  ... read more »
  
  Report this review
- 957096
- - a customer
  - devon
  - 25 Jan 2011 at 17:51
- - 2
  - 0
  Grows on you
  
  The more I thought about this afterwards, the more I appreciated it. It's stark, with fairly sparse dialogue, and there's nothing pretty about it. Oh ... read more »
  
  Report this review
- 904998
- - a customer
  - Isle of Skye, Scotland
  - 12 Jul 2010 at 17:39
- - 0
  - 0
  The Son
  
  I found this film to be very dull, very slow and
  
  not saying very much although I think it may have had the potential to be a very good film !!
  
  Report this review
- 847761
- - a customer
  - London
  - 11 Jan 2010 at 10:13
- - 0
  - 0
  Literally the most boring film I have ever seen
  
  Nothing happens to nothign people who say nothing about it. If this is understated then I am not a fan. Usually a huge fan of this type of film, but just did ... read more »
  
  Report this review
- 834960
- - a customer
  - Coventry
  - 27 Nov 2009 at 14:26
- - 0
  - 0
  Painfully slow...
  
  I wanted to like this film, but didn't. Yes, the hand-held camera work gives an almost voyeuristic quality as we constantly watch carpenter Olivier's ... read more »
  
  Report this review
- 832746
- - wikkidsmyle
  - 438 reviews
  - Newmarket
  - 19 Nov 2009 at 21:43
- - 0
  - 0
  Comfort of daily work & mundane tasks
  
  This starts by seeming to be a sinister, creepy tale. We understand it very slowly, and this allows our feelings of discomfort to build and last a very long ... read more »
  
  Report this review
- 771466
- - mimi1
  - 11 reviews
  - Cambs
  - 15 Jun 2009 at 22:59
View all members' reviews (55)

- - 26
  - 1
  All should see it!!!
  
  The directors of 'The Son' brothers Jeane-Pierre and Luc Dardenne, are together experienced documentarians. This is made explicitly clear in the film&#... read more »
  
  Report this review
- 350295
- [Highly rated reviewer]
  - AngrySloucher
  - Norfolk
  - 06 Oct 2005 at 13:53
- - 9
  - 1
  restrained, thoughtful, fantastic film..
  
  with one fantastic performance from Olivier Gourmet. With handheld and thoughtfully choreographed cinematography that blatantly avoids the obvious shots you'... read more »
  
  Report this review
- 4897
- - dafadddu
  - the north will rise again
  - 21 Apr 2004 at 20:09
- - 9
  - 1
  Quietly astounding
  
  This is a marvellous little film. Extremely spare with dialogue, it's a good film for sly looks and awkward silences. Both leads (older guy and younger guy... read more »
  
  Report this review
- 14850
- - Kevin Daisley
  - Coatbridge, Scotland
  - 16 Aug 2004 at 13:12
- - 9
  - 1
  Intrigue to irritation
  
  After about 15 minutes into the film, with the camera constantly following the central character from one room to the next, you are ever so slightly drawn in to... read more »
  
  Report this review
- 419709
- - pad
  - 37 reviews
  - London
  - 13 Mar 2007 at 11:22
- - 8
  - 0
  This Is Hardcore
  
  The Dardenne brothers are making some of the most important cinema in Europe at the moment (see "Rosetta" 1999). This film deals with material that in... read more »
  
  Report this review
- 309140
- - AnotherNightIn
  - Merseyside
  - 09 Sep 2004 at 12:05
- - 8
  - 3
  Wake me when it's over
  
  I really didn't see the point of this film, in which basically nothing happens but does it very slowly. Obviously intended to be a character and motivation... read more »
  
  Report this review
- 179939
- - Bill Hardwick
  - Cheshire
  - 30 Nov 2005 at 11:55
- - 6
  - 0
  Compelling and Unique
  
  What an extraordinary film this is. For the first half hour, the viewer is presented with a selection of scenes (all shot handheld, over the actor's ... read more »
  
  Report this review
- 319193
- - bobbyperu
  - Merseyside
  - 17 Jan 2005 at 18:39
- - 6
  - 1
  A beautiful, must-see film
  
  Takes a while to understand why the characters are like they are, but it all becomes clear. Perfect style of filmmaking for this simple but profound narrative.<... read more »
  
  Report this review
- 302325
- - howdi
  - London
  - 06 Apr 2004 at 13:10
- - 6
  - 2
  Slow, Strange and then it Sucks you in..
  
  This is a really slow to start film and you feel uncomfortable watching it but gradually the characters really grow on you and the ending is one of the most ... read more »
  
  Report this review
- 89495
- - a customer
  - Launceston, Cornwall, UK
  - 06 Apr 2005 at 23:40
- - 5
  - 1
  Don't even think about it!
  
  I think a good synopsis of this film would be that during the film, it jammed, we continued watching it for a while without noticing that it had crashed we just... read more »
  
  Report this review
- 553494
- - Simi2008
  - 5 reviews
  - shrewsbury
  - 14 Apr 2008 at 23:29

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Critics' reviews
- "There are few filmmakers today for whom moviemaking is as deeply moral an enterprise as it is for Jean-Pierre and Luc Dardenne....[A] powerful new film..."
- 11591
- - Los Angeles Times
  - 11 Mar 2005 at 12:59
- "Cinematically speaking, Luc and Jean-Pierre Dardenne are a modern-day miracle....THE SON weighs the balance of revenge and forgiveness..."
- 11593
- - Sight and Sound
  - 11 Mar 2005 at 12:59
- Olivier (Gourmet) is a good teacher of carpentry, but a touch gruff; even so, when he refuses to accept young Francis... read more on Time Out
- 45840
- - Time Out
  - 04 Nov 2008 at 00:16
- "...THE SON is complete, self-contained and final....It is assured and flawless..."
- 11590
- - Chicago Sun
  - 11 Mar 2005 at 12:59
- "...It is sturdy, durable and, in its downcast, unobtrusive way, miraculous..."
- 11592
- - New York Times
  - 11 Mar 2005 at 12:59

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- The Son
  
  Olivier, a carpenter who teaches his craft to teenagers become obsessed with a new student, Francis. The reason for his obsession soon becomes apparent... ...