Neils Arestrup plays Lear? Not quite, but this exceptional film does rework Shakespeare especially in the sub-plot of Lear involving Gloster's (Shakespeare's spelling) two sons, Edgar and Edmund and the parallel even extends to the Gloster figure, played to perfection by Patrick Chesnais, being terminally ill whereas Gloster was merely blinded. There is so much to admire here not least the comprehensive coverage of running a vineyard - in this aspect we can find comparisons with Moby Dick i.e. part fiction, part documentary - and the acting across the board is of the highest quality. After a long career providing film-enhancing support Arestrup finally gets a chance to strut his stuff in a leading and largely unsympathetic role and is equalled, if not surpassed by Chesnais, another largely unsung French actor who never disappoints and brings lustre to even the most thankless role. In this film Chesnais and Arestrup are the Burt Lancaster/Kirk Douglas of France and a thousand times better. This is a film almost beyond praise and cannot be recommended too highly.
Review of You Will Be My Son
