Sonoma International Film Festival

‘As the best wine doth make the sharpest vinegar, so the deepest love turneth to the deadliest hate’. -John Lilly (1553-1606)

One of the best (and most fitting) films to screen at the 16th annual Sonoma Film Festival was the French wine-drama ‘Tu Seras Mon Fils’ (‘You Will Be My Son’, 2011). The film is a drama of Shakespearean proportions with nail-biting twists and turns creating as much tension and unpredictability as a vineyard’s year.

Directed by Gilles Legrand, the film stars French icon actor Niels Arestrup as ‘Paul de Marseul’, owner of Saint-Émilion vineyards in France valued at over thirty million euros. Paul is a fervent monomaniacal vintner who cares more about his fine wine and vines than his own son, ‘Martin’ (Lorànt Deutsch). Paul feels that while Martin is his son by blood, he is not the son he wishes he had.

Paul’s steward François' (Patrick Chesnais) is dying of cancer. One day, Francois' son ‘Phillipe’ (Nicolas Bridet) arrives from America upon learning of his father's illness. Unlike Martin, Phillipe has a talent for the wine business and an envious palate. Paul falls in love with the idea of Phillipe as being heir to the Marseul inheritance over Martin. As Phillipe's father is dying, the timing couldn't be better to adopt Phillipe as his own son and disown Martin; and thus the usurpation of the Marseul throne begins. ‘You Will Be My Son’ is no ordinary love triangle, this is one of love turning to hate like a fine wine turning into vinegar.

Written by Vanessa McMahon

Visit the film's official website here: http://www.universalpictures-film.fr/film/tu-seras-mon-fils