Poison
A powerful adaptation of Gif, one of the Netherlands' most successful plays, about a couple reuniting years after their divorce for the reburial of their son.
Edith and Lucas lost their son, then lost themselves, and finally, each other. That’s how it went after the death of their son Jacob, ten years ago. Lucas left on New Year's Day, never to return, and managed to build a new life. Edith, on the other hand, remained trapped in her grief and bitterness. Now, they’re meeting again at Jacob’s gravesite. Due to contamination in the soil, his coffin needs to be moved, forcing them into an emotional confrontation. Accusations fly, but there’s also room for reconciliation and attempts at forgiveness.
POISON marks the directorial debut of Luxembourgish actress Désirée Nosbusch, filmed primarily in and around the village of Vianden in Luxembourg. The screenplay was written by Lotte Vekemans, based on her 2010 play Gif, which became an international success, staged in over twenty countries in fifteen translations. Nosbusch worked with a predominantly female crew and secured top talents Trine Dyrholm and Tim Roth for the film. A poignant detail: during filming, Roth’s son was battling cancer, a fight he would later lose. (jc)