You Will Be My Son

Not since Claude Berri’s Jean de Florette and sequel Manon of the Spring 25 years ago has there been as tragic and powerful father/son drama as Writer/Director Gilles Legrand’s You Will Be My Son.

 

Niels Arestrup (War Horse) is Paul de Marseul, a wine-baron in France’s Bordeaux region, who rules his vineyards with an iron hand.  With his manager (Patrick Chesnais) dying of cancer, Paul’s thoughts turn to who will take over the business, when he, himself, passes on.

Instead of his son Martin (Lorànt Deutsch), who by French law should inherit, Paul wants to pass the vineyards on to his manager’s son Phillipe (Nicolas Bridet) even if it means he must adopt him.  This sets up passions of Shakespearean proportions.

 

With top-rate acting by all involved and beautiful cinematography by Yves Angelo, You Will Be My Son is well worth the view.

I give it a 3+ out of 5.

This film closed the Rendez-Vous with French Cinema at Lincoln Center and, aptly, it was followed with a wine party.