I was captivated by You Will Be My Son, from the opening scene to the last.
Unfortunately, once I reached that last scene it was with a certain amount of
disappointment. The film builds spectacularly upon its characters and the
spectacular performances, which make every plot twist and every conversation
compelling, though this does not save the ending from feeling somewhat bleak
and pointless. As competent as the drama within the film’s narrative may be, it
ultimately leads the audience to an almost pointless conclusion which feels
somewhat unresolved.
As dramatic as
the narrative and convincing as the performances are, the characters in You
Will Be My Son are written with Greek tragedy levels of deviance, especially concerning
familial relationships. Paul de Marseul (Niels Arestrup) is the proprietor of a
prestigious family vineyard, though he treats his educated son as more of a
burden than an asset. Martin (Loránt Deutsch) desperately attempts to win his
father’s approval, only to find himself disrespected and ridiculed at every
turn by one of cinema’s worst ever father figures.
Paul not only
dismisses his only son’s attempts at success as inadequate, never allowing him
a larger role in the family business, but he also constantly hints at a sexual
attraction to Martin’s wife and has no hesitation in bringing another man’s son
into the family business in replacement of his own flesh. With Paul’s estate
manager on his death bed, Martin hopes to fill that position and instead is
replaced by Philippe (Nicolas Bridet).
Manipulative
melodrama aside, You Will Be My Son
is a solidly constructed film, from the acting to the direction. The characters
could have been a bit less one-dimensional at times, though this is what helps
fuel the drama in the narrative. The Blu-ray release includes deleted scenes
and an interview with star Deutsch and director Gilles Legrand.
Entertainment Value:
6/10
Quality of
Filmmaking: 7/10
Historical
Significance: 4/10
Special Features: 5/10
No comments:
Post a Comment