The Son

BELLA

My reaction to Rafiq

Watching The Son was very emotional for me. I felt deep sympathy for Rafiq because he only wanted love and acceptance from his father. He was trying to live his truth, but it was very difficult for him in a traditional family.

Some scenes made me very sad, especially when his father could not accept him. I also felt pain for the father, because sometimes people are afraid of change. I think Rafiq was brave. The film reminded me that everyone deserves understanding and respect.

the father and son relationship

The father and son relationship is the heart of this story. I believe relationships with parents change over time. When we are children, we depend on them. As teenagers, we want independence and sometimes argue. As adults, we begin to understand them better.

In the final scene, when the father reads the short letter, it was very powerful. Even though the letter was short, it showed that Rafiq still cared. That moment felt emotional because it showed love, regret, and misunderstanding.

JULIAN


Watching the film…. the character of Rafiq

I think he’s talking about those who don’t accept the LGBTQ+ community. I guess he’s talking about respect, discretion and see it as a normal thing. There is a lot of things to talk about, the LGBTQ+ sometimes is not understandable. So the message they want to introduce in this movie is to accept this preference of sexuality. Not saying they have to fight for their rights or anything like that. We see Rafiq being rejected by his family and I think there is no more heartbreak than being rejected by the family. Family is gonna be with us always, no matter what, family is not only cousins, mother, father – family is also that friend who is there every time someone needs helps and is always there for them.

So we can understand the pain Rafiq felt the moment his father caught him with another guy.

And in the United States, especially in New York City we’re gonna see LGBTQ+ people everywhere so the message is not to see them with discrimination. Instead – just respect.

They also have feeling and they have been through for a lot of things to be who they are today. There are many people who don’t feel right just because they feel they are being attracted by people of the same gender and they think they just confused.

And sometimes it can also happen, but it’s part of life being confused sometimes. We all have been confused by something, sometimes for a very simple thing.

So my personal opinion it’s about acceptance, not being part of it.

My relationship with my father

My relationship with my father was not the best, or at least not as I wished for.

I grew up with my mother’s grandparents but my father was always sending money to me for my health or my studies, my food and even for clothes. I had everything because of him and that is something I’m going to be grateful for.

But I never had a close relationship with him, when I was a child, the calls we made were only him asking me how I was, and how much money I needed. The calls were never more than up to 5 minutes long.

I understood at the beginning because he was here in the United States, and in my country everyone talks about American Life as the most difficult life, no time at all for anything, not even for birthdays, not even for Valentine’s or for Christmas holidays.

But over the years, it was the same thing, same calls and same treatment.

To me it was fine as long as he kept sending money to me, because I knew my grandmother couldn’t do it by herself, she had to prioritize my older brother with support because he had no one else since he’s from a different father.

For 3 or 4 years I didn’t have any communication between my father and me.

Then something happened so we stop the communication.

3 years later when I came to the United States, I got to meet him in person, I lived with my aunt (my father’s sister) for 2 years so she was the one who told me to meet him and also told me to forget about the past. I didn’t really pay attention to the past because I wasn’t in a bad situation, so I didn’t have anything against him.

I said “why not? Let’s go see him.”

The day we met we both didn’t have any reaction. We just shook hands and said hello to each other.

That same day he told me he regretted sending me to Honduras, I didn’t say anything because he told me the same thing all the time we talked on the phone in my childhood.

We saw each other two more times. He has three children, two of them are twins and then another one. I love them; they are so sweet and I saw my father only because of my brothers to be honest. He was living in a different city and he invited us on my brother’s birthdays.

Finally he came back to Honduras after 22 years and he decided to stay there. I don’t have any communication with him but I know he’s ok. I don’t feel sad about it, I just think I don’t have any feelings about our relationship.

And Rafiq wrote a letter to his father I think because he had feelings like everybody else, so the fact that he rejected him is not an excuse to stop loving him as part of his family. Rafiq maybe knew his father was wondering how he was, where he was and if he was safe. Fathers sometimes don’t show their feelings.

GHIZLAIN

VITA

My reaction to Rafiq

In my opinion, everyone deserves respect. Gay people are people just like everyone else. They have feelings, families, and dreams. I think it is important to be kind and treat others the way we want to be treated. Even if people are different from us, we should accept them and not judge them. Respect and kindness make our community better.

My relationship with my father

My father is a wonderful dad. He always supports me and cares about me. We have had a great relationship, and we still do. I think that if parents truly love their child, they accept them no matter what. Life can be different and sometimes difficult, but family members should always support each other.

MARIA

My relationship with my father

My father’s name is José, he is 65 years old, and he is the love of my life.

I am his eldest daughter, so perhaps that’s why our relationship has always been so close. As a child, I remember going with my father every weekend to the soccer games he played with his family and friends. My mother didn’t usually come with us because she isn’t very fond of sports. As a teenager, I didn’t live with my father because my parents was living here in New York when I turned 14, but our relationship wasn’t very good because I would go out with friends and he would just give me advice.

He returned to Ecuador when I turned 19, and since then, our relationship has been very good. He is very open, and I can tell him about my problems and situations, and he gives me advice. We shared similar tastes in music, which was great because we sometimes went to see shows by many different artists. Also, I had played soccer since high school, so he used to come to my games to support me.

I believe that no matter what happens in our lives or what our parents were, everything they did was because they loved us, and it’s when we become parents ourselves that we truly understand that. It’s also very important to understand that each person is a unique individual with their own values and culture, and that shapes their way of thinking.

The Song BREAKAWAY

This is a good song to explain this story, and I think it has a very deep connection to everyone’s life, because sometimes we’ve felt the need to run away not only from a place, but also from people, situations, thoughts, etc., and that’s a way of showing that every circumstance has helped us grow in one way or another. We may feel fear, but it’s a normal process, and in the end, everything has a purpose that helps us improve.

A good example is when we arrive in this city or country.

SHAVKAT

My reaction to the character Rafiq

After watching the film, I felt sympathy for Rafiq. I think he was a very honest and sensitive person who wanted to be accepted by his family and society. Even though people may have different backgrounds or beliefs, everyone wants understanding and respect.

My relationship with my father

When I was a child, my father was strict but caring. He taught me discipline and responsibility. As a teenager, sometimes we had different opinions, and I wanted more independence. However, I always respected him. When I became an adult, our relationship changed and became warmer. I understood better why he behaved the way he did when I was young. Over time, our relationship became based more on mutual understanding and respect.

HANNA

In modern society, there are diverse opinions regarding people of non-traditional sexual orientation, and each of these perspectives is shaped by particular values, cultural norms, and worldviews.

Some individuals adhere to traditional and religious beliefs rooted in historical foundations.

For them, the concept of family is primarily associated with the union of a man and a woman.

Others believe that every person deserves safety, equal opportunities, and respect for their dignity, regardless of their views, background, or orientation.

The principles of humanism call for respect for the individual and recognition of their right to be themselves.

It is important to understand that tolerance does not mean agreeing with every belief; rather, it means acknowledging another person’s right to make their own choices.

Every opinion has the right to exist.

ABBOS

Science has shown that some people are born with a different sexual orientation. It is not a choice, just like you do not choose your ethnicity, your skin color, or the country where you are born.

For people with different orientations in countries where this is not accepted, life can be very hard. Rafik’s story made me feel sad and angry. When his father said he would kill him, it was shocking for me. No one should be afraid of their own family.

At the same time, I think his father still loves him deep inside. Rafik also loves his father. Maybe when his father received the short letter and understood that his son was alive and safe, he felt some relief. But this conflict is not easy to solve, because society changes slowly.

ELENA K.

1). The story about Rafiq made me feel very strong emotions.

 I was surprised that he grew up in a very religious Muslim country. In his country, same-sex relationships are not allowed. That is why his feelings seem real and honest.  I was also angry about his father. I was shocked that his father hurt him. For me, it is cruel and wrong. People should not hurt others, no matter what they believe. Violence is wrong for family and for any living being.   This moment was the hardest and most emotional for me in the story.

5) The song, Breakaway….

In the story, Zane said that this song is about him. 

This song is like the story of his life. In the song, there are words: “I won’t forget all the ones that I love. I won’t forget the place I come from.”

I think that Zane is not angry at anyone for his past life.  The main idea of this song is that it can be like a hymn for people who want to be happy. If you want to be happy, you will need to spread your wings, learn how to fly, make a wish, take a chance, and break away.

EVGENY

When I watched the film, I also thought the most important moment was the letter from the son. It showed the father that his son was alive, safe, and still his son. The short letter helped the father accept him without saying any words. Sadly, we often live in a society with strict rules and stereotypes. We want to change them, but we cannot do it quickly. Sometimes, we need to move to a better place where people understand and accept us. This can be hard, but it is the right choice.

My father died when I was 12 years old.  A lot of time has passed, and now I only remember him from my childhood. That’s why it’s difficult for me to talk about the relationship between a father and a son.

The song BREAKAWAY

The song Breakaway is very important for Zain. The words in the song are about a person who wants to be free and start a new life, who feels different and alone in a small town and dreams of something better and hopes to leave one day.

Zain feels the same. He wants to be himself and live without fear. That’s why this is his favorite song. The song gives him hope and power.

This song can also speak to me. We all have moments when we want to change our life, be brave, and follow our own path.

Take a chance, make a change, and break away.

ELENA S.

The actor who played Rafiq

The actor who played Rafig says that he, like the main character, was lonely and was afraid of disapproval of his family, especially his father. For many years he did not communicate with his father, but before his father died, he said that he would always be on his side and would support him. Therefore, he decided to devote this role to his father.

He also noted that with his game he wanted to show the full depth of this story so that people could see the truth, not the labels.

Everyone has the right to be themself

He has the right to live and is not afraid of condemnation that he fits into the generally accepted framework. It’s unfortunate that in the modern world people live by stereotypes, carry aggression towards people who don’t look like them.

The actor who played Rafiq talks about what may happen after watching this episode, people will think about the fact that they are facing an ordinary person, a person without labels.

In Russia, the LGBTQ community is recognized as extremist, so I’m not surprised that this video was banned.

JORGE

What was YOUR reaction to the character Rafiq?

The character Rafiq says many things that a lot of people live in their families and in the society where they grow up. Culture and religion often end up judging and condemning a person who is not heterosexual. It was a very well-performed character.

Honestly, I am not surprised by what is shown. I think it is even less than the real situation, which is much more cruel. The only thing that makes me angry is that in many places we cannot be ourselves — we cannot live as who we truly are and what we feel. 

I will not say if I cried, but it definitely made me think a lot and remember things from my past pretend to be someone we are not. and even from my present.

I agree with the actor. When he says the story should “give this story justice,” I think he means they must tell it honestly and respectfully because it represents real people and real pain.

He says “changed” because powerful stories can change the way people think. They can create empathy. Even if someone does not fully agree, they might start to see LGBTQ+ people as human beings with feelings and struggles.

In my opinion, a very homophobic audience may not want to watch this story, so it may not create a big change in them. However, it is still important. Every story like this opens a door to hope and can slowly change society.

I think the video was banned in some Arab countries and in Russia because some governments and cultures reject LGBTQ+ topics. They may want to deny this reality. But banning a story does not erase the existence of people who are different. It only shows fear of change and open conversation.

There is a lot of ignorance around this reality of life. I believe no one chooses to be born heterosexual or gay. It is something that is inside us and develops naturally as we grow. Even if children grow up in the same family with the same values, each child is different. Every person has their own identity, personality, and feelings.

JANNA

My general reactions to the film

According to the United Nations between .05% and 1.7% of people worldwide are born with sexual characteristics that do not fit the typical definitions of a male or female body. Medicine helps such people by correcting natural deviations.

Our character Rafiq has clearly defined secondary sexual characteristics: muscular physique, thick stubble on the face, low male voice. Therefore, we are talking about preference for homosexual relationships over heterosexual, that has appeared mentally, in the brain. As I understand it, we are talking about freedom of choice of sexual partners.

I think this is a personal, private, intimate side of a person’s life. He can live his intimate life without letting everyone in the world know about it.

Such movies of such relationships will affect the fragile psyche of children and teenagers.As they grow up, they will choose homosexual relationships., not because there are hormonal changes in the body, but because they will watch spectacular beautifully staged films with handsome actors. Mistakes in nature regarding the sex of newborns are very small.

The involvement of more and more people in homosexual relationships will lead humanity further and further away from the harmonious natural world. This will have irreversible consequences for humanity itself.

YANETH

Your reaction to the film

I was not surprised by the character, because sexual orientation and gender identity are present in every culture, even in the most conservative ones. What truly shocked and angered me was the father’s reaction. His closed-minded and violent response, trying to “correct” his son by burning him, reflects a profound intolerance and inability to accept that every human being is different.

Respect should exist, especially within a family. At the same time, I felt deep sorrow imagining everything he must have endured to finally reach a place where he could live freely as himself. I am also a resettled refugee, although for different reasons. I experienced political persecution because of investigative reports I published about corruption and money laundering under the dictatorship in my country. I know firsthand how exhausting, frustrating, and complex the bureaucratic process is with the UNHCR to become resettled in a third country. The medical exams, the background checks, the repeated interviews about your life — it is an intense and emotionally draining process.

When I watched him receiving his documents, I immediately remembered arriving at the Houston airport two years and four months ago, holding tightly the small bag that UNHCR gave me before I boarded the flight in Bogotá. That bag contained documents that meant survival to me, yet many people in the United States do not understand them because so few people have that status, and those documents are rarely recognized as valid identification.

When the doorman responded to him rudely, I thought about how his journey was only beginning. Arriving in a new country is a great relief — it literally means your life has been saved — but it also marks the start of a very challenging stage. You must learn a new culture, navigate complex systems, live without strong support networks, struggle with a new language, and sometimes face unkindness from people who do not understand your background.

Fortunately, Rafiq arrived in a place where he can be himself without fear of being harmed. Fortunately, I am now in a country where the dictatorship of my homeland can no longer hurt me. This is a powerful reflection. It’s honest, analytical, and deeply human — exactly what professors look for in this kind of assignment.

Relationship with your father

My relationship with my father has been somewhat tense since I was a child. He has always wanted things to be done his way, and I have a very independent, determined, and strong personality. My father has not been a bad father, but there has often been a silent struggle between us over who is in control.

He has always been a pacifist when it comes to physical punishment. Only once did he slap me because of something I said to him, and I stopped speaking to him for about three years. He eventually had to apologize before I was willing to talk to him again. During my teenage years, he tried to pressure me by threatening to withdraw financial support, so I chose to start working in order not to depend on him. On my fifteenth birthday, I moved out and began living independently.

Overall, I have had a good relationship with my father. However, the peace between us is disrupted whenever he tries – even now that I am an adult – to pressure me into doing exactly what he wants. He has not succeeded, and he will not. Although he was able to exert that kind of control over my sister, he was never able to do so with me.

CHRISTIAN

I  listened to the music many times. I tried to write down the lyrics, which was a wonderful effort, but obviously, it wasn’t possible to do it perfectly. I tried to guess  the parts I couldn’t understand but I made some funny embarrassing mistakes. I seemed to recreate the song, and it turned out that I wasn’t a very good inventor! The song itself was amazing. I really loved it. From now on, I’m going to be a serious fan of Kelly Clarkson.