Film: You Will Be My Son (Tu seras mon fils) (2011)
Cast includes: Miels Arestrup (A Prophet, War Horse), Lorant Deutsch (Welcome to the Roses), Patrick Cesnais (The Diving Bell and the Butterfly), Anne Marivin (Tell No One), Nicholas Bridet (The Light)
Director: Gilles Legrand (Micmacs, Malabar Princess)
Genre: Drama | Suspense (102 minutes) French with subtitles
As the coffin burns, Martin asks if it’s made of oak. “He never liked woody aromas.” “Wine tells a story,” Paul tells the journalist who’s doing a story on Chateau de L’Abbey. “We could get a photo of you and your son.” “No thanks,” says Paul. You’d think when Paul learns that his estate manager, Francois, has cancer, he’d be glad for his son Martin’s dedication to the estate. “Thanks, Kiddo.” Everything about Martin annoys Paul. Paul can’t understand why Martin goes running every morning. Making wine isn’t “athletics… it’s aesthetics.” Even as he heckles Martin and his wife, Alice, to produce offspring, he cruelly dismisses Martin’s value. “Martin is very attached to the estate,” Alice tells him. “I’m not attached to Martin.” “People are nothing but toys to you.” Martin seems capable enough when he’s not under his father’s thumb. For example, the distribution contract he’s been negotiating… he’s gotten a much better deal than his father would ever have gotten. “You don’t learn to make wine in college,” scoffs Paul. “Just give me a chance,” pleads Martin. Paul takes him to the cellar and tells him how his own father trained him years ago… just a week before dying from asphyxiation in the fermentation cellar.
When Francois asks Martin to help him set up a Skype call with his son who works at a vineyard in California, Paul realizes Philippe doesn’t know his father is ill. So he places a call of his own, and as expected, Philippe returns to France to spend time with his dying father. As it turns out, the vineyard wouldn’t give him Philippe time off, so he’s out of a job just now. That’s perfect, because Chateau de L’Abbey needs someone to help Francois. But Paul seems to have something more in mind… “You need a plot of land with history to bring out your talents,” he tells Philippe. Large vineyards are like monarchies… they pass from father to son. So when Paul begins making overtures toward Philippe, it feels quite inappropriate… and as the story develops, we see that no one is comfortable with the idea… although perhaps Philippe can be persuaded by flattery and attention. “The land has chosen you,” Paul tells him.
“I may not be the ideal son, but I’m not your dog,” exclaims Martin in a rare moment of defiance. What appears to be a family drama gradually turns into a story of suspense. In the meantime, we soak in the scenery along with the traditions of wine making, tasting and dynasties. The nuances of the story are subtle but powerful. As things unfold, we get a deeper understanding of the complex relationships and why a viable solution needs to be found before it’s too late. Is it true that Martin “lacks the palate despite his pedigree?” We can’t be sure, but Martin certainly has the passion.
3 popped kernels
The owner of a famous vineyard and winery wants to change the line of succession, leaving his own son out in the cold
Popcorn Profile
Rated: R
Audience: Grown-ups
Distribution: Art house
Mood: Neutral
Tempo: Cruises comfortably
Visual Style: Unvarnished realism
Character Development: Engaging
Language: True to life
Social Significance: Pure entertainment
