The title is almost Biblical and it could be understood alluding to the Parable of the Prodigal Son, slightly modified. Other similarities:
The events in this film takes place in a vineyard, wine and vineyards from several reasons being an essential part of the New Testament. Wine is used by Jesus in parables, or when he transformed water to wine (what a dream for a Frenchman) and not least during The Last Supper, when the wine becomes more than just a 'beverage' but the essential part (blood) in the holy union between man and God.
Wine is also - as we know - something almost 'sacrosanct' in France, this being very obvious in this film.
Paul de Marseul (Niels Arestrup) is the owner of a prestigious vineyard in Saint-Émilion, being his life's work, his apple (or grape) of the eye and a work he's not willing to let his son Martin (Lorànt Deutsch) become the heir too, at least not at this very moment. Paul doesn't regard him as is talented enough, not having the natural 'palais'/palate and being to much of a theoretician.
Paul has an associate, the former property manager François Amelot (Patrick Chesnais), with whom he has worked for decades. François has got a cancer and although he tries to convince Paul that the treatment is succesful, he is dying.
One day Philippe (Nicolas Bridet), the son of François arrives from California, in the US where he runs a vineyard of his own. When meeting him, Paul suddenly sees the perfect successor, not only to Philippe's father François but to himself, the day when he is to old to continue or the day he dies.
This creates immense tensions between Paul and Martin but also between Martin and Philippe, François and Paul and François and Philippe.
This not least as Paul doesn't conceal his feelings for Philippe, inviting him to participate in the viticultural work in a way he never have done with Martin.
From now on this film becomes a drama where the initial hesitation from Philippe's side, soon turns into a fascination where he sees himself in charge of this magnificent 'vignoble', more and more ignoring Martin who he has known since childhood.
Martin is torn between despair and fury and his attempts to make his father regard him as the natural successor only leads Paul to despise him even more.
Finally François looses his patience with his former colleague and friend but also with his son as he watches how the latter becomes more and more negligent against Martin, taking the advantages bestowed to him by Paul for granted. This leads François step by step to a final drastic solution.
Besides the drama - leading us to think somewhat of Falcon Crest - this films contains both the above mentioned Biblical themes as well as a profoundly psychological depiction of human behaviour.
In addition to all that, this oeuvre also depicts the importance of wine and food in France, being something one talk about, discuss, analyze, evaluates, reevaluates etc etc.
This is also one of the things I (Gunnar) appreciate with France, so different from Sweden where food and drink is a fuel, nothing more.
The fascination over the grapes, the wine and the different flavours are so well depicted that you almost feel yourself knowing more about viticulture after having seen this film.
I come to think of an American film, although not at all made in the same spirit: Sideways, a wine-road-movie, where one of the main characters, Miles (Paul Giamatti), refuses to drink Merlot.
However, if you want to understand more about how the French regard their wineries, their wines, food, the almost sacred atmosphere around the grape, this in combination with suspense, we both recommend you 'Tu seras mon fils'. Director. Gilles Legrand.
The events in this film takes place in a vineyard, wine and vineyards from several reasons being an essential part of the New Testament. Wine is used by Jesus in parables, or when he transformed water to wine (what a dream for a Frenchman) and not least during The Last Supper, when the wine becomes more than just a 'beverage' but the essential part (blood) in the holy union between man and God.
Wine is also - as we know - something almost 'sacrosanct' in France, this being very obvious in this film.
Paul de Marseul (Niels Arestrup) is the owner of a prestigious vineyard in Saint-Émilion, being his life's work, his apple (or grape) of the eye and a work he's not willing to let his son Martin (Lorànt Deutsch) become the heir too, at least not at this very moment. Paul doesn't regard him as is talented enough, not having the natural 'palais'/palate and being to much of a theoretician.
Paul has an associate, the former property manager François Amelot (Patrick Chesnais), with whom he has worked for decades. François has got a cancer and although he tries to convince Paul that the treatment is succesful, he is dying.
One day Philippe (Nicolas Bridet), the son of François arrives from California, in the US where he runs a vineyard of his own. When meeting him, Paul suddenly sees the perfect successor, not only to Philippe's father François but to himself, the day when he is to old to continue or the day he dies.
This creates immense tensions between Paul and Martin but also between Martin and Philippe, François and Paul and François and Philippe.This not least as Paul doesn't conceal his feelings for Philippe, inviting him to participate in the viticultural work in a way he never have done with Martin.
From now on this film becomes a drama where the initial hesitation from Philippe's side, soon turns into a fascination where he sees himself in charge of this magnificent 'vignoble', more and more ignoring Martin who he has known since childhood.Martin is torn between despair and fury and his attempts to make his father regard him as the natural successor only leads Paul to despise him even more.
Finally François looses his patience with his former colleague and friend but also with his son as he watches how the latter becomes more and more negligent against Martin, taking the advantages bestowed to him by Paul for granted. This leads François step by step to a final drastic solution.
Besides the drama - leading us to think somewhat of Falcon Crest - this films contains both the above mentioned Biblical themes as well as a profoundly psychological depiction of human behaviour.
In addition to all that, this oeuvre also depicts the importance of wine and food in France, being something one talk about, discuss, analyze, evaluates, reevaluates etc etc.
This is also one of the things I (Gunnar) appreciate with France, so different from Sweden where food and drink is a fuel, nothing more.
The fascination over the grapes, the wine and the different flavours are so well depicted that you almost feel yourself knowing more about viticulture after having seen this film.
I come to think of an American film, although not at all made in the same spirit: Sideways, a wine-road-movie, where one of the main characters, Miles (Paul Giamatti), refuses to drink Merlot.
However, if you want to understand more about how the French regard their wineries, their wines, food, the almost sacred atmosphere around the grape, this in combination with suspense, we both recommend you 'Tu seras mon fils'. Director. Gilles Legrand.
(Poster copied from:http://image.toutlecine.com/photos/t/u/0/tu-seras-mon-fils-tu-seras-mon-fils-24-08-2011-1-g.jpg)
(Photo Nidls Arestrup and Nicolas Bridet in the wine cellar copied from: http://www.cinemovies.fr/images/data/photos/21212/tu-seras-mon-fils-2011-21212-2041981653.jpg)
(Photo Nicolas Bridet and Lorànt Deutsch in the vineyard copied from: http://www.cinemovies.fr/images/data/photos/21212/tu-seras-mon-fils-2011-21212-924306381.jpg)
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