‘The Son’
Florian Zeller’s The Son will break your heart into a million little pieces. The emotional drama stars Hugh Jackman, Laura Dern and newcomer Zen McGrath as a struggling family battling a mental health crisis. Peter (Jackman) takes Nicholas (McGrath) in after his mother (Dern) expresses that his behavior is unmanageable. However, the father recently had a baby with his new wife and must divide his time appropriately. When he discovers that the situation is more complicated than imagined, things begin to unravel. The movie is a stark contrast to others that have tackle mental health, and examines its themes through a modern and nihilistic lens — refusing to sugar-coat it for the weak of heart. The story is heartbreaking and infuriating, but makes for a valuable watch.