Olivier initially refuses to take the boy, but curiosity—or perhaps a darker impulse—leads him to change his mind. It is soon revealed that Francis is the person responsible for the death of Olivier's young son years earlier. The film follows Olivier as he stalks, mentors, and ultimately confronts the boy who destroyed his life, without Francis ever knowing who his teacher truly is. Cinematic Style: The "Handheld" Intensity
The story centers on , a carpentry instructor at a vocational training center for troubled youths. Olivier is a man of few words, defined by a rigid routine and a heavy, unspoken burden. His life is disrupted when Francis , a teenage boy recently released from juvenile detention, applies for an apprenticeship in his workshop. Le fils aka The Son (2002)
Much of the film is shot with a handheld camera following closely behind Olivier’s head or shoulder. This perspective forces the audience to inhabit his physical space and feel his claustrophobia. Olivier initially refuses to take the boy, but