The Son
Seen it?2002 | 103 min | Drama
Sunday Safe Betearly ratingWhy it’s a Sunday Safe Bet
Critics loved it (88% on Rotten Tomatoes), though it had a box office flop and almost no lasting buzz. A safe bet when you want something reliable.
Based on critics, audiences, awards, box office and buzz. Details below.Is it for you?
- Who'll love it
- Made for anyone who loves a strong drama. Critics rate it higher than audiences do, so it rewards patience more than it chases thrills.
- The mood
- Thoughtful and character-driven.
- The pace
- Takes its time with its characters, at 1 hr 43 min.
- What might put you off
- It's in French, so expect subtitles (or a dub).
- Audiences were cooler on it than critics.
A joinery instructor at a rehab center refuses to take a new teen as his apprentice, but then begins to follow the boy through the hallways and streets.
How it earned its rating
- CriticsVery strong
88% on Rotten Tomatoes, 86 on Metacritic
- AudiencesSolid
7.4 out of 10
- AwardsWeak
0 wins and 4 nominations from smaller awards and festivals
- Box office & staying powerWeak
$70K worldwide; still draws a steady audience long after release
- Buzz & cultural impactWeak
About 9K people sought it out in the past year
Trailer
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Cast & crew
Directed by Jean-Pierre Dardenne, Luc Dardenne
- Olivier GourmetOlivier
- Morgan MarinneFrancis
- Isabella SoupartMagali
- Nassim HassaïniOmar
- Pierre NisseApprenti Soudeur 1
- Anne GerardLa Mère de Dany
- Annette ClossetLa Directrice du Centre
- Félicien PitsaerSteve