My Son, My Son, What Have Ye Done?

Herzog returns in a collaboration with David Lynch which tickles the senses.

Michael Shannon plays Brad, who in the past embarked on a journey with some hippy friends to Peru and was spoken to by God. God told him not to ride the rapids with his friends as they would all die but none of his friends would listen to him and so they all paddled to their death, except Brad who stayed watching from the river bank. This sequence of events is told in flashback while we follow the present day events of Willem Defoe’s cop leading an attempt to coax Shannon from his home after the latter killed his mother in order to try and live an independent life. Intertwined with all of this are the surrealist elements of dwarfs, a high-brow theatre performance, moving “still photograph like” shots as characters look into the camera and stand still, as well as moments of acute jabs at American culture and some very fine acting performances.

It is difficult to analyse Herzog’s films and this one is no exception. The concept and story are very simple but when all the elements are brought together it creates a film rich in symbolism and personal commentary which is also pretty fun to watch. The actors deliver their performances completely dead pan which is comically, but also eerily, disturbing and shows that Herzog has an acute understanding of human interaction and awkwardness. The Lynch influence is all over the film from the obvious dwarf inclusion to the magnificent and haunting Grace Zabriskie in the role of the mother. Shannon’s Brad is almost an extension of a similar character he played in Revolutionary Road but darker and more manic.

The film is a very personal experience. The story is very simple and so some viewers may switch off if they are not fully immersed in this odd world and all its eccentricities. But for those who enjoyed the rather strange sequences in his last movie, Bad Lieutenant, this film will leave you very satisfied, if not a little baffled.

 My Son, My Son, What Have Ye Done? was screened as part of Edinburgh International Film Festival.

Last edited: 7th July 2010

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