Florian Zeller — one of the few European directors who managed to conquer Hollywood.
For his directorial debut «Father» with Anthony Hopkins, he won the Oscar in 2020.
Three years later, he is ready to present his second film in the family trilogy «Son», the story of a father, played by Hugh Jackman, dealing with the depression of his teenage son.
We met with the director ahead of the release of his new film in Europe.
Florian Zeller, French director:
— These are two films, «Father», my first film, and «Son», which are more English than American, but from this point of view they are European. And I thought about making this film in French, but suddenly the intuition was stronger, or, let's say, the desire not to make a film, not to tell a French, or English, or American story, for that matter, but to embrace something more universal. Because what we are talking about happens and can happen, unfortunately, in all families, and this is what I really wanted to talk about.
It was Hugh Jackman who insisted that Florian Zeller take his role as a father, because the story responded to him personally.
The film focuses on mental health, the helplessness of loved ones and their guilt.
Florian Zeller, French director:
< p> — I did not want to be too frank, to justify or explain, and, therefore, to relieve this teenager from sufferings. And I wanted us, the audience, to experience the feeling and sometimes the blindness of a father character who has all the best intentions in the world. He is a loving, considerate father who nonetheless experiences the powerlessness that I think many people experience. When you no longer know what to do to help someone you love with all your heart.
Anthony Hopkins appears in one of the key scenes of the film, where Hugh Jackman is no longer only a father, but also a son…< /p>
The film is released in Europe on the first weekend of March.