While poignant in the extreme, never stoops to easy sentimentality or sensationalism.
The Whore's Son (2006)
Tomatometer
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Reviews Counted:12
Fresh:3
Rotten:9
Average Rating:4.7/10
Runtime: 86 mins
Genre: Dramas
Synopsis: Based on Gabriel Loidolt's novel, this affecting film follows the life of Ozren, whose mother is a prostitute. Ozren must come to terms with his mother's profession, his own feelings toward her,... Based on Gabriel Loidolt's novel, this affecting film follows the life of Ozren, whose mother is a prostitute. Ozren must come to terms with his mother's profession, his own feelings toward her, and the ostracism and judgment that has plagued both of them. [More]
Starring: Stanislav Lisnic, Bernadette Abendstein, Georg Friedrich, Maria Hofstatter
Starring: Stanislav Lisnic, Bernadette Abendstein, Georg Friedrich, Maria Hofstatter, Chulpan Khamatova, Gerti Drassl, Miki Manojlovic
Director: Michael Sturminger
Director: Michael Sturminger
Screenwriter: Michael Sturminger
Producer: Josef Aichholzer
Studio: Picture This! Entertainment
Reviews for The Whore's Son
It's reasonable, of course, for a teenager to misunderstand his mother. But The Whore's Son doesn't comprehend her any better than her son does.
Tale of mother worship nicely sets its protags within multiple contexts as outsiders, but is kept from taking off by poor motivations and a nagging naivete in the over-innocent title character.
Despite a contrived creakiness in the plot, a climax all too broadly hinted at in the opening scene and the occasional dive into blowzy-hooker cliché, some characters are nicely observed.
Being in the company of Usein's and Lisnic's slow-minded, one-note character for most of the movie, we're strained to develop the sympathy level that would make for a touching or perceptive study.
The slicing camerawork of Fassbinder/Haneke collaborator Jurgen Jurges underscores the bitter message: We don't always know what we want from our parents, only what we're not getting.
Strong performances aren't enough to flesh out an underdeveloped script that leaves far too many questions unanswered.
The story should have been allowed to unfold naturally, from start to finish, without disclosing where it was headed right from the get-go.
... a low-key Austrian drama that, as the title hints, dusts off Coming of Age Plot No. 16C, with modestly entertaining results.
... the movie might have made a greater impact if it focused less upon the whore, and more on the son.
Ozren's dejected journey for his mother distills the Oedipus story and is capped with an unconscious, cut-the-cord bid for survival.
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