Last Friday, April 19th, the monthly Educational Film Discussion of the Space Cinema and Psychiatry project took place. Room 24 of the Psychiatry and Psychology Service at the Calixto García General University Hospital in Havana. It was once again transformed into a small and welcoming movie theater. This time to enjoy and discuss the film “The Son”, a French-British drama directed by Florian Zeller and starring Hugh Jackman, Laura Dern, Vanessa Kirby, and Zen McGrath.
Following the Oscar-winning “The Father” (2020). Florian Zeller adapts the second part of his theatrical trilogy. “The Father” immersed us, through overwhelming empathy. In the mind of a man with dementia, an extraordinary drama impressively portrayed by Anthony Hopkins. “The Son” arrived in 2022 with a stark look at mental health and suicide. In which a compelling Hugh Jackman plays a father desperate to understand his teenage son suffering from depression. It explores the family fractures that lead to denial and misunderstanding. And contributes to raising awareness about the importance of understanding mental illness.
A sad situation that many people experience and that is rarely discussed. The film tells the story of a father who is rebuilding his life with another woman. With whom he has had a second child. Whose life is drastically changed after a distress call from his ex-wife regarding his teenage son. The story reflects the anguish of Nicholas Miller (Zen McGrath). A teenager who doesn’t know what’s happening in his life. Finding no meaning except in pain, and his parents who are overwhelmed because they can’t help him. The decisions they make have a profound and extremely heartbreaking impact on events. Nicholas, the son, ends up taking his own life.
Zen McGrath’s performance has been criticized as rather flat. It is nonetheless revealing, showing us the pain of his character. Reflecting the reality that many young people his age experience today. This film received generally mixed reviews from critics and audiences. On the specialized website Rotten Tomatoes, a critical consensus reads: “Despite reliably solid performances from Laura Dern and Hugh Jackman, The Son remains mired in unpleasantly aggressive melodrama.”
But do you want a more aggressive and violent situation than suicidal behavior? That is the film’s theme from a psychiatric perspective: depression and suicide in adolescence. Something that occurs more frequently than people realize.
Addressing the problem of suicide requires thinking in terms of complexity and multiple causes. It is a phenomenon of great importance as a health problem both globally and in our country. Affecting the fabric of society, with a high impact on the family and social environment of the individual and their community, with far-reaching effects. It is an extremely violent act, violence inflicted upon oneself. As psychiatrists well know, and it causes emotional devastation that may forever mark the families of those who die by suicide.
For such a complex topic, the Film and Psychiatry Space project invited Professors Elizabeth Méndez and Elba Elvira Varona, both specialists in Child and Adolescent Psychiatry. They masterfully presented the film from an academic standpoint and led the subsequent discussion.
Professors Elizabeth Méndez and Elba Elvira Varona, specialists in Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, presented the film. Photo: By the author
The discussion proved enriching. All participants expressed their ideas and opinions about the film. It was highlighted that the film accurately reflects the clinical presentation of depression in adolescence. Which differs from that of depression in adults. As it generally manifests more with behavioral disturbances. For example, the protagonist stops attending school, which worries his mother when the school calls to inform her. Aspects of the care Nicholas received in mental health services were also discussed. As well as the importance of timely and appropriate treatment (medication and psychotherapy). Psychotherapy is fundamental because it also helps to explore the underlying causes and address the voids, gaps, and absences.
Professor Elizabeth Méndez emphasized the value of relationships and attachment in these cases. This refers to the deep emotional bond that forms between a person and their primary attachment figures. When caregivers respond sensitively and consistently to a baby’s signals and needs. A secure attachment is established, promoting healthy development. The quality of attachment established in infancy has implications for a child’s later development. Children with secure attachment tend to show greater confidence, self-esteem, emotional regulation, and social skills. While those with insecure attachment may experience difficulties in these areas.
Can attachment form and then break down? What happened in Nicholas’s life? What were the causes of his depression? Why couldn’t this teenager’s suicide be prevented? To what extent are parents responsible for what happened?
If you want to find the answers to these questions and learn more about aspects of depression and suicide in adolescence, I invite you to watch “The Son.” A film where the characters’ lives are devastated by the shockwave of a disorder that requires individual and specialized attention. In short, there are two very clear messages in the film: looking the other way is useless. And love, while essential, is not enough.
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