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Olivier Gourmet, Morgan Marinne, Isabella Soupart, Remy Renaud, Nassim Hassaini ... see more see more... , Felicien Pitsaer , Kevin Leroy

This downbeat drama by acclaimed Belgian filmmakers Jean-Pierre and Luc Dardenne bears a thematic and formal resemblance to their previous works, La Promesse and the Palme D'Or winner Rosetta. Dardenn... read more read more...e brothers' regular Olivier Gourmet is in every frame as the stern Olivier, a carpenter who teaches the craft to teenagers seeking a vocation. Olivier's drab routine is interrupted by the enrollment of a new student, Francis (Morgan Marinne), who becomes the object of the carpenter's inexplicable obsession. Speaking with his ex-wife, Magali (Isabella Soupart), about his new charge, Olivier reveals the reason for his fixation: Francis was the young street tough who murdered their child years ago. Now out of juvenile prison, Francis seeks to start anew, and eventually even asks the flummoxed Olivier to become his guardian. Olivier withholds his knowledge from the oblivious Francis, even as a tentative relationship between the two develops. The tense scenario leads to a climactic confrontation at a lumberyard, as the past finally catches up with teacher and student. This rigorous and deliberately paced film played in competition at the 2002 Cannes Film Festival, where Gourmet was awarded the best actor prize. ~ Elbert Ventura, Rovi

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85% liked it

410 ratings

Critics

88% liked it

57 critics

Unrated, 1 hr. 43 min.

Directed by: Luc Dardenne, Jean-Pierre Dardenne

Release Date: January 10, 2003

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DVD Release Date: May 25, 2004

Stats: 52 reviews

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Flixster Reviews (52)

  • gator681
    November 8, 2005
    gator681
    [font=Century Gothic]In "The Son", Olivier(Olivier Gourmet) is a carpentry instructor at a work center. At first, he decides against adding a new student to his class but a meeting with his ex-wife(Isabella Soupart) changes his mind. Olivier then becomes intensely curious about... read more his new student...[/font]
    [font=Century Gothic][/font]
    [font=Century Gothic]"The Son" is a tense drama that is filmed with handheld cameras, so the viewer is looking at Olivier's point of view throughout the film. The Dardenne brothers do a very good job at capturing the complex emotions at play.[/font]

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Critic Reviews

Stephen Cole
April 23, 2004
Stephen Cole, Globe and Mail

Fails to provide enough tension to draw us into what, at first, seems a properly chilling crime drama. Full Review

Geoff Pevere
April 2, 2004
Geoff Pevere, Toronto Star

If you have to pick between movies about the spiritual passion of tortured carpenters, make this the one. Full Review

Kathy Cano Murillo
September 25, 2003
Kathy Cano Murillo, Arizona Republic

A substantial story about how one man handles his personal turmoil.

Colin Covert
June 12, 2003
Colin Covert, Minneapolis Star Tribune

A miraculously straightforward drama of deep symbolism and lingering power. Full Review

Robert Denerstein
April 25, 2003
Robert Denerstein, Denver Rocky Mountain News

It's spring-loaded with tension and driven by agonizing moral choice.

Manohla Dargis
April 3, 2003
Manohla Dargis, Los Angeles Times

A gentle warning that in a world guided by an eye for an eye, everyone ends up blind. Full Review

Mick LaSalle
March 7, 2003
Mick LaSalle, San Francisco Chronicle

A shrewd, highly controlled little film. Full Review

Roger Ebert
February 22, 2003
Roger Ebert, Chicago Sun-Times

It is as assured and flawless a telling of sadness and joy as I have ever seen. Full Review

Michael Wilmington
February 20, 2003
Michael Wilmington, Chicago Tribune

This is a fine, uncompromising film, and Gourmet's performance should be called great. Full Review

Andrew Sarris
January 30, 2003
Andrew Sarris, New York Observer

I can't deny being stirred by the wildly melodramatic climax of The Son, with its thunderously quiescent Zen Buddhist conclusion. Full Review

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