The Son's Room 2002

In the picturesque town of Ancona, we meet Giovanni, a therapist grappling with the profound loss of his 17-year-old son, Andrea. The narrative unfolds when Andrea is accused of stealing a rare ammonite fossil from school, leading to his suspension and steadfast denial of wrongdoing. In a moment of vulnerability, he confides in his mother, Paola, revealing that the theft was merely a prank gone wrong, with intentions to return the fossil before it got damaged.

As events take a tragic turn, Giovanni and Andrea plan for a jog together; however, Giovanni is summoned to console a distressed patient facing a cancer scare. Unbeknownst to him, Andrea, along with a friend, decides to go scuba diving. In a heartbreaking accident, he drowns while exploring an underwater cave, leaving Giovanni, Paola, and their daughter Irene to navigate the painful journey of grief.

In his quest for answers, Giovanni delves into the details surrounding Andrea’s diving equipment, suspecting it may have been faulty. Despite Paola’s reminder that the equipment was deemed safe, Giovanni begins to struggle with his emotional detachment from his patients and the challenges they face. The loss of his son strains his ability to connect with those he once helped, pushing him towards feelings of frustration and anger.

Amidst the sorrow, Paola discovers a love letter addressed to Andrea from a girl named Arianna, who he met at camp. This unexpected revelation compels the family, unaware of Arianna’s existence in Andrea’s life, to seek her out as they realize she remains oblivious to their son’s tragic death. Eventually, they invite her to their home to honor Andrea’s memory.

In an emotional visit to a music store, Giovanni tries to purchase an album for Andrea’s memory and ends up with a Brian Eno record. Arianna arrives and is introduced to Andrea’s room, where she shares humorous photographs that Andrea had sent her, illuminating a side of him that Giovanni hadn’t fully appreciated before.

As Arianna shares her plans to travel to France with her friend Stefano, the family offers them a ride. A simple journey stretches into an adventure as they find themselves journeying into the night, ultimately arriving at Menton, the border between Italy and France. After warmly bidding farewell to Arianna and Stefano, the family reflects on their shared memories and the transitional moment of stepping onto the beach, symbolizing hope and the promise of new beginnings in the wake of their loss.