For Argentine’s Pablo Trapello, best known for his acclaimed crime drama “The Clan,” directing his first English feature film “&Sons,” he feels both new and familiar.
The adaptation of the novel of the same name by Oscar-winning screenwriter Sarah Pauly (“Women’s Tale”) and David Gilbert, co-pen by the drama, which premieres on September 7th, at Tiff, centers around Dyer, who is shaken by the end of a world-famous writer and best friend. He summons his estranged sons to reconcile with them, facing his own death rate. But when they arrive, he reveals something to believe in something too far away.
Bill Nye (“Love, Indeed”) plays his divorced wife, Imelda Stanton (“Downton Abbey”), while Dominique West (“Crown”) plays a highly supportive role. They lead a stellar cast including Anna Geislerova (“Humanity”), George Mackay (“1917”) and Johnny Flynn (“One Life,” Noah Jupe (“Quiet Place”) plays the youngest, Andy.
He has previously worked on the English series “Echo 3” and “&Sons” in AppletV+ and multilingual skein “Zerozerozero”, but Trapero’s first English film is also the first time he has worked with an impressive number of Bafta Winning and/or appointed actors in one project. And in the case of Nighy and Staunton, they were nominated for an Oscar.
Notable pedigrees are also located behind the camera. It was scored by Emmy Award-winning “The White Lotus” composer Cristobal Tapia de Veer. Multi-Emmy Casting Maven Nina Gold (“Baby Reindeer”) has assembled the cast of the stars.
Trapero said: “I’ve been making films for many years. My cast, especially Bill, Imelda and Dominic, are internationally acclaimed and established actors. Still, they get close to every line, like their first film, providing the performances possible to allow for the same passion and drive.”
In a way, “&sons” reminds me of his last film, “The Quietuded” or “The Clan” or “The Rolling Family.” All of these are deeply interested in building bonds that form with the people around us, not just with the families we are born in, but with the families that form with us. It doesn’t belong anywhere. ”
When adapting the story, he decides to set it in the UK rather than the novel’s original New York setting. “The story moves in a somewhat abstract house, in a somewhat undefined setting. You may recognize certain parts of Oxford or London, but the centrality of the story unfolds in a more ambiguous space. It could be a place that is removed from the noise, like in any house, in any city, or in this case, in the country.
“There was real care and mutual respect in the set,” he says. Continue the experiment,” he muse.
Plus, “And it’s incredible to feel surrounded by people who come close to everything with the same kind of passion that came back when I was making short films at film school.”
“&Sons” is produced by Infinity Hill (Axel Kuschevatzky, Phin Glynn, Cindy Teperman), Toronto-based Elevation Pictures (Christina Piovesan and Emily Kulasa), and Maven Screen Media’s Trudie Styler, Celine Rattray and Jackie Donohoe.
Trapello also produced his own piece of iron, Matanza Cine.
& Son, courtesy of the altitude
