Fils, Le (2002)

Directors:

Jean-Pierre Dardenne
Luc Dardenne

Writers:

Jean-Pierre Dardenne (writer)
Luc Dardenne (writer)

Release Date:

4 October 2002 (Italy)

Genre:

Drama

Tagline:

Guldpalmen for bedste mandlige skuespiller 2002[Denmark]

Plot:

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.

Plot Keywords:

Sandwich | Ladder | Divorce | Coffee | Murder

Awards:

8 wins & 8 nominations

Cast

Olivier Gourmet	...	Olivier
Morgan Marinne	...	Francis
Isabella Soupart	...	Magali
Nassim Hassaïni	...	Omar
Kevin Leroy	...	Raoul
Félicien Pitsaer	...	Steve
Rémy Renaud	...	Philippo
Annette Closset	...	Training Center Director
Fabian Marnette	...	Rino
Pierre Nisse	...	Apprentice welder
Stephan Barbason	...	Apprentice welder
David Manna	...	Apprentice welder
Abdellah Amarjouf	...	Apprentice welder
Jimmy Deloof	...	Dany
Anne Gerard	...	Dany's Mother
Dimitri Legros	...	Cafe customer
Leon Michaux	...	Tutor
Colette Hobsig	...	Cook
Anne Dortu	...	Baker
Sandro Scariano	...	Hot dog seller
Isabelle Comte	...	Cafe waitress

Directed by
Jean-Pierre Dardenne
Luc Dardenne

Writing credits (in alphabetical order)
Jean-Pierre Dardenne		writer
Luc Dardenne		writer

Produced by
Olivier Bronckart	....	executive producer
Jean-Pierre Dardenne	....	producer
Luc Dardenne	....	producer
Denis Freyd	....	producer
Arlette Zylberberg	....	associate producer

Cinematography by
Alain Marcoen

Film Editing by
Marie-Hélène Dozo

Production Design by
Igor Gabriel

Costume Design by
Monic Parelle

Makeup Department
Tina Kopecka	....	key makeup artist

Production Management
Philippe Groff	....	unit production manager
Véronique Marit	....	production manager
Philippe Toussaint	....	unit manager

Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
Bernard Garant	....	first assistant director
Delphine Guterel	....	assistant director

Art Department
Geneviève Otte	....	props
Paul Rouschop	....	assistant art director

Sound Department
Benoît De Clerck	....	supervising sound editor
Jean-Pierre Duret	....	sound
Thomas Gauder	....	sound mixer
Luc Plantier	....	sound editor
Michel Schillings	....	sound recordist
Marie-Jeanne Wijckmans	....	sound effects editor

Camera and Electrical Department
Benoît Dervaux	....	camera operator
Amaury Duquenne	....	second assistant camera
Basile Duquenne	....	third assistant camera
Jean-François Hensgens	....	first assistant camera
Christian Plenus	....	still photographer
Eric Waldman	....	gaffer

Editorial Department
Patrick Delamotte	....	color timer
Rachel Lamisse	....	assistant editor
Jocelyne Ries	....	negative cutter
Sophie Vercruysse	....	assistant editor
Roger Vervoenen	....	color timer

Other crew
Philippe Groff	....	location manager
Anne-Catherine Leboutte	....	production assistant
Marika Piedboeuf	....	script supervisor

Production Companies

• Archipel 35
• Les Films du Fleuve
• Radio Télévision Belge Francophone (RTBF)

Distributors

• A-Film Distribution (2003) (Netherlands) (theatrical) (for)
• Bitters End (Japan) (theatrical)
• Diaphana Films
• Filmfreak Distributie (2003) (Netherlands) (video)
• Filmgalerie 451 (2007) (Germany) (DVD)
• Filmmuseum Distributie (2003) (Netherlands) (theatrical)
• Four Films (2006) (Chile) (theatrical)
• Impuls Home Entertainment (2006) (Switzerland) (DVD)
• Lucky Red
• Madman Entertainment (2007) (Australia) (DVD)
• Madman Entertainment (2007) (New Zealand) (DVD)
• New Yorker Films (2003) (USA) (subtitled)
• Xenix Filmdistribution (2002-2003) (Switzerland) (theatrical)
• Zeta Films (2006) (Argentina) (theatrical)

Also Known As:

The Son (International: English title)

Runtime:

103 min (Cannes Film Festival)

Country:

Belgium | France

Language:

French

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.66 : 1

Sound Mix:

Dolby Digital

Certification:

Argentina:13 | Australia:M | South Korea:All | Brazil:14 | France:U | Netherlands:AL | Sweden:7 | Switzerland:12 (canton of Geneva) | Switzerland:12 (canton of Vaud) | UK:12A | Singapore:PG

Filming Locations:

Seraing, Liège, Belgium

Company:

Archipel 35

Trivia:

Partly inspired by the Jamie Bulger murder, a case that shocked England in 1993 when a two year old toddler was murdered by two 10-year-old boys.

A film that speaks of forgiveness without many words...

This is a MUST SEE film for any working actor.

As an actor, I often study films as I watch them, and I'm proud that as I was watching this movie I picked things out that were later mentioned in the commentaries as being done on purpose. For instance, one immediately notes the unique camera angles (at first it "followed" the main actor from behind, so you only saw his back... yet I was amazed at how much emotion and character was conveyed by his body language)... as the film progressed, I noted how few lines of dialog there were - and how utterly real the acting was. The hand-held camera led to a feeling of voyeurism, like we were actually there watching the watcher... the tension in the movie was palatable and kept me holding my breath... I was slightly disappointed in the very abrupt ending (it was so sudden I actually thought my DVD skipped a chapter)...

In watching the directors & actor's commentary I learned that the film was written FOR this particular actor (what an honor!) because he had had worked with the directors before.... the actor said he believed the body is the actor's instrument and his dream was to someday do a stage show where his back was to the audience the entire time! They also discussed their unique rehearsal process and such - really interesting to hear.... and after seeing this movie, I have now developed my own philosophy of acting: A beginning actor is at Stage 1 where you worry about remembering your lines.... A better actor is in stage 2 and they focus on delivery and HOW their lines are said and the emotions that go with it.... but the best actor is at stage 3 where the real acting is done BETWEEN the spoken lines and without any dialog at all.... that's what I felt this movie really reinforced - the tremendous acting ability done by a glance and body language.... it is in French with subtitles, but it really was a "thinker" of a movie... not something I would recommend to everyone, but a "must see" for any actor.