The Son, released in 2022, has created some speculation about the origins of the film’s story and whether it is based on a true story. Written and directed by Florian Zeller, The Son received mixed reviews from critics, but has landed itself a spot in Netflix’s top 10 movies in the United States since it was placed on the streaming giant’s platform. This heartbreaking story stars Hugh Jackman and Zen McGrath as father and son.
The story told in The Son is a difficult one to watch, but it provides some stark warnings and brutal lessons about depression and parenting. Hugh Jackman plays Peter Miller, a recently remarried man with a newborn son as well as a teenage son from his previous marriage. The story follows Peter’s attempt to reconcile his relationship with his elder son, Nicholas (McGrath), who is struggling with severe depression. Peter’s shoddy attempts at being a father to Nicholas up to this point reflect the cruelty and absence of his own father, Anthony Miller (Anthony Hopkins), but Peter recognizes it and does his best to take responsibility and make amends.
The Son Is Based On A French Play
The Son is not based on a true story, but rather a French play of the same name, also written by Florian Zeller. The play is from 2018, and while the story in The Son is not identical to that of the original play, it is largely the same. Zeller seemingly decided that a few changes to the script would make a better fit for the big screen, accounting for any differences between The Son and the original play. Regardless, the story is not based on real life, even if it feels like a true story.
The play version of The Son, originally titled in French (Le Fils), is the final play in a trilogy that began with The Father and The Mother. The Father, Le Père in French, premiered in 2012, while The Mother (La Mère) premiered two years earlier in 2010. The trilogy is highly acclaimed, and The Father has now been performed in over 45 countries.
The Son Feels Realistic (Despite Being Fictional)
While The Son may not be based on real life, it certainly feels like a true story. Struggles with family and depression are far too common, and the story feels extremely real because of the relatability. Not only are the themes in The Son relatable, it is also shot in such a way that it feels like looking in on someone’s real life. Between the script, the directing, and the acting The Son is made to feel like a real-life recording of a family’s heartbreaking story.
