A successful lawyer, with a new wife and infant, agrees to care for his teenage son from a previous marriage after his ex-wife becomes concerned about the boy's wayward behavior.
A family is fractured when a father's new life with his partner and their child is complicated by his ex-wife's concern for their son. The son, grappling with teenage angst and depression, is enrolled in a new school. His struggles lead to further emotional turmoil for all involved, forcing the family to confront difficult truths and the complexities of mental health.
The Son received a mixed to negative reception from critics, with particular criticism directed at its screenplay and perceived heavy-handedness in its exploration of mental health issues. While performances, especially Hugh Jackman's, were often praised, the film struggled to resonate with audiences and critics alike, with many finding it emotionally manipulative and unsubtle.
Google audience: Audience reviews are generally mixed. While some appreciated the film's emotional depth and strong performances, many found the subject matter difficult to connect with and the narrative overly bleak and predictable. Some viewers felt the film did not handle the sensitive topic of teenage depression with sufficient nuance.
Nominated for the Golden Lion at the 79th Venice International Film Festival. Hugh Jackman received nominations for Best Actor at the Golden Globe Awards and the Critics' Choice Movie Awards.
The film is based on Florian Zeller's 2018 stage play of the same name, which is the second installment in his 'mother and son' trilogy, following 'The Father' (2010) and preceding 'The Mother' (2021).
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