Ton fils

This is a Spanish production (original title: '' Tu Hijo ''), directed by Miguel Ángel Vivas and starring one of the best contemporary European actors, Jose Coronado, whose performance as the protagonist, Jaime, is truly riveting. Jaime is a middle-aged surgeon, married with two kids, Markos (Pol Monen) and Sara (Asia Ortega). When Markos gets seriously injured after a nasty fight outside a nightclub, Jaime will have to face his worst nightmare, how own son is in a coma and decides to find the person responsible and revenge his boy.

This is the basic premise of the story, and it certainly is not one that we, as viewers, haven't already encountered numerous times in films of the genre. The difference is that ''Tu Hijo'' is, above all, a study of the protagonist's character, concentrating on his feelings and emotional reactions rather than relying on the strength of its script and plotting. Coronado combines intensity with subtlety and is compelling in his portrayal of a shattered man, determined to get revenge for his son's current predicament. The director chooses do many close shots to Coronado's face which reflect the wide range of Jaime's conflicted feelings, ranging from pure rage to the sense of helplessness and despair, while displaying the actors skills.

Of course, the above facts do not imply that ''Your Son'' is a boring film with a weak plot. On the contrary, I that it has a compelling plot which unfolds in a slow -though effective- tempo and leaves no loose ends. The story reaches its climax in the final ten minutes of the running time and the finale comes as a surprise to the viewer who definitely expects another decision made from the protagonist. Personally, I think it was a great, though-provoking ending which suited perfectly the film's mood and tone. ''Your Son'' is a movie that you will think about for days after watching as it raises valid questions regarding justice, vigilantism and the meaning of familial obligation.

You don't have to have kids of your own, to at least slightly comprehend what parents go through when it comes to raising children and then facing things that happen to them. And this really gets your blood boiling. You can empathize with the father to a certain degree.

But this is not as clear cut as it seems and we all know that you should not take justice into your own hands. And then there is the end, which as at least one other revewier has stated will leave you with a very bitter after taste. At least that's how it should be. The "excuse" is not enough to explain the behaviour - how decent are you? Can you overlook this and still "enjoy" the movie? Or rather look upon it with a good feeling? It is tough for sure ... and it's a grim movie overall ...

As a father having a son, watched the movie in horror. Lead actor, the father, is extremely successful. Daily bad news from the society on the radio news and a happy life of a doc portrayed, but you can't keep away from the filth as you're living in a filthy environment. It happens. Things go messy if everyone imposes his own justice. Script is poor especially on scenes required police interaction. A father's unbearable agony, for me, this is movie's ultimate success.

A slow burn and atmospheric movie, it is truly led by the lead actor José Coronado who plays the dutiful father, stoic and a man of few words, however, as the movie progresses we see layers to him, a man on the edge trying to balance. He has come face to face with violence within him spurred on by a violent act done to his son. He begins his journey trying to understand what happened, but by the end he does not care he needs to avenge his son who can no longer run with him or speak to him. The bond between father and son is captured on screen, in contrast to his distant daughter who in her own way is trying to do the right thing but then doing the right thing in this movie means choosing a side. The ending is a question in itself, what does vigilante justice really amount to, it is a matter of perspective is it not? Through the looking glass as they say. It is worth a viewing, only for the brilliant acting by José Coronado, it is sad to see the rest of the supporting cast could not match up to his on screen presence aside from perhaps the daughter acted by Asia Ortega who did not have much dialogue either, perhaps intentional.

Filmed with admirable restraint, this Spanish film makes its points with articulate ease. The pacing is effortless, sweeping the viewer along for the ride, keeping you on the edge of your seat yet sitting back just enough to let you get your breath. The quiet tension never overwhelms, putting you in the front seat of the main character's pursuit of justice. Kudos for not going with a Hollywood Liam Neeson revenge fantasy, this sophisticated movie is more interested in the complex and adult reality of this man's pain and determination. The only downside is a pivotal moment of stupidity by the main character which seems more like an artificial plot device than something an educated man would do, even in the heat of his uncovering of the truth about the fate of his son.