Synopsis
Son of Mine (original title: Gluckauf) is a gripping social drama about the oppressive relationship between a father and a son, who as modern outlaws struggle to survive, in the neglected southern Dutch province of Limburg.
Gluckauf (the miner’s greeting for a safe return from the deep) is the first artistic feature film of director Remy van Heugten and is fully spoken in Limburg dialect; a very authentic, but unfortunately dying language.
The film is based on Remy van Heugten's personal experiences, who grew up in this pittoresk, yet poor region of the mostly rich Netherlands. A place where the social and economical consequences of the closing of the coal mines, many years ago, are still very much felt.
Lei, descendant of an unemployed coal miner, is an aimless man in his fifties, living a hand to mouth existence. A hustler and a thief, he’ll do anything to survive. The only person he cares about is his son, Jeffrey, a popular, ambitious young man, yet strongly marked by his father’s anti social upbringing. When Jeffrey discovers that his father has a long-drawn debt with Vester, a local, charismatic crime boss, he does what every loving son would do: He secretly takes over his father’s dept. Jeffrey starts doing jobs for Vester, which leads him to a hunger for more money and power. Jeffrey’s star rises and Lei’s attempts to keep his son from straying from his side, only result in a greater estrangement. Jeffrey’s new girlfriend Nicole urges father and son to reconcile, but their rigid thoughts prove difficult to change.