Hubert Minel, 17, dislikes his mother intensely. Below the surface of the irritating traits lie the mechanisms that his mother has always cultivated so dearly – manipulation. Hubert Minel (Xavier Dolan), a brash 17 year old, dislikes his divorced mother Chantale (Dolan regular Anne Dorval) intensely. He eyes her with contempt, only seeing her out-of-date sweater, her kitschy décor and the disgusting bread crumbs that lodge in the corners of her mouth. Below the surface of these irritating traits lie the mechanisms that his mother has always cultivated so dearly – manipulation. As if serious maternal issues were not enough, Hubert also grapples with his religious upbringing at a Catholic boarding school and his burgeoning attraction to other men. Of course, Chantale is completely unaware of this – for the time being. "The love-hate relationship with one's mother as a teenager is an ambivalent feeling that many people are probably familiar with. I totally recognized myself in the film and also felt a bit caught out." (Sooner curator Tamara Denić) "What a furious debut! Delicate and powerful at the same time, it's a shame that Xavier Dolan no longer makes films. It's a shame that the industry treats one of its greatest talents like this." (Sooner curator Justina Jürgensen) "Beautiful images to die for. Reminiscent of Wong Kar-wai and Tom Ford, but Dolan is only half their age." (Sissy Magazine)
In his debut, 19-year-old Xavier Dolan comes to terms with his coming out and his difficult relationship with his mother - "Prix Regards Jeune"
Hubert Minel, 17, dislikes his mother intensely. Below the surface of the irritating traits lie the mechanisms that his mother has always cultivated so dearly – manipulation.
Hubert Minel (Xavier Dolan), a brash 17 year old, dislikes his divorced mother Chantale (Dolan regular Anne Dorval) intensely. He eyes her with contempt, only seeing her out-of-date sweater, her kitschy décor and the disgusting bread crumbs that lodge in the corners of her mouth. Below the surface of these irritating traits lie the mechanisms that his mother has always cultivated so dearly – manipulation. As if serious maternal issues were not enough, Hubert also grapples with his religious upbringing at a Catholic boarding school and his burgeoning attraction to other men. Of course, Chantale is completely unaware of this – for the time being.
"The love-hate relationship with one's mother as a teenager is an ambivalent feeling that many people are probably familiar with. I totally recognized myself in the film and also felt a bit caught out." (Sooner curator Tamara Denić)
"What a furious debut! Delicate and powerful at the same time, it's a shame that Xavier Dolan no longer makes films. It's a shame that the industry treats one of its greatest talents like this." (Sooner curator Justina Jürgensen)
"Beautiful images to die for. Reminiscent of Wong Kar-wai and Tom Ford, but Dolan is only half their age." (Sissy Magazine)