I killed my mother, Xavier Dolan

poster                                                  Hello everybody!
This time, I would like to write about an impressive film, that was only directed by a 20-year-old film director and then, shown during the 2009 Cannes Film Festival, where it received a standing ovation.
« I Killed My Mother » is Dolan’s debut movie, one could also identify this film as a semi-autobiographical story.
Dolan tells us the love-hate relationship of a 17-year-old Hubert Minel, played par Dolan himself, and Chantal Lemming, his mother. Hubert is very talented with words, also artistically, but he seems to grow only to despise every single aspect of his mother, from the way she eats, her old fashioned and kitsch pull-overs as well,  to the fact that she applies make-up while driving… Discussions between them become shouting matches.
fightThey sometimes are so angry against each other that they burst into laughter, understanding how absurd their behaviours are. Hubert cannot stand when she forgets what she promised the day before or how she manoeuvres him into doing something she wants…She annoys him so much, that he even told a teacher that her mother was dead…A sad news, that her mother will learn, then turn up in his classroom furiously, screaming a false hilarious Do I look dead to you ?”. Both of them acknowledge that they can’t live with each other anymore, but perhaps not without each other either.
The first scene of the movie is a close-up in black and white of Hubert’s eyes, as he tries to find out what he wants to say to his camera. These videos allow us to understand his thoughts and to have his own point of view, which makes us deeply understand how he feels.videos More than this, the film tackles many important topics, such as the homosexuality of the main characters, the bullying because of his identity, his relationship with his boyfriend, his forbidden friendship with his french teacher, how to live without catching one’s father attention…

 » I can look at her, talk to her, sit next to her, but… I can’t be her son. I could be anyone’s son, but not hers »

This is a very honest film that succeeds so well because it says the truth about relationships between humans, that everybody can recognize. We all fully agree then, that we all have the weird ability to hurt people we love the most. The actors are also truly touching and convincing, especially Dolan himself.

Have you heard of this film? Have you ever seen another one of this film director? What did you think about it?

12 réflexions sur « I killed my mother, Xavier Dolan »

  1. Your article is so beautiful Rachel (with a lot of photographies and quotations) ! I’ve never seen this movie but it seems to be very interesting and if I believe what you said, it must reflect reality. Moreover I think that using the camera to show Hubert’s feelings is a very good idea ! It doesn’t look like a joyful movie but sometimes it also great to watch poignant movies.

  2. I really must watch all of the Dolan’s films because they seems to be very touching. I only watched « Les Amours Imaginaires » and through this love triangle there is a touch a humor and dramatic and I hope that it is the same in his others pictures…
    I truly love the atmosphere, the aesthetic of his shot, and I would like to live in Dolan’s movies world!!

  3. Haha thanks a lot Manon! 🙂 It’s true that i enjoyed doing it… You know, what is interesting is also that even if it’s sometimes quite harsh, it’s also funny! And that’s another think i find brilliant about this film director. Tell me if you watch one of his movies!

  4. Oh you watched « Les Amours Imaginaires » Othilie? 😀 What did you think about it? Haha even if I really like his movies, I’m not sure i would like to live in Dolan’s worlds beacuse it’s cruel and full of disillusions… Don’t you think so? 🙂

  5. I have nerver heard of this movie but it seems to be interesting and touching . The next time that I have nothing to do I would think to see it.

  6. Rachel, I agree with you, but that’s not what I meant. I love the vintage atmophere, the colors of his shot and the charism of the characters, and I like to live with this kind of things. Not with the entire drama around the characters. 🙂
    And about « Les Amours Imaginaires », it was a funny film but it’s just a love triangle that goes « wrong ». It’s a good movie, but I think « I kill my Mother » seems to be better. I’d like to know what is your favorite line in this film !? 🙂

  7. You’re welcome! Aww I didn’t think that it was also funny. No, I’ve never seen his movies :/ !

  8. I’ve never seen this movie, but I have a friend who is a huge fan of Xavier Dolan and who already talked to me about it. The only Dolan’s film I watched is « les amours imaginaires » (and it was with you ahah!) and I really enjoyed it, so I think I’m going to watch « I killed my mom » very soon 😉

  9. I just watched Mommy directed by Xavier Dolan and I liked it pretty much. So, I think I will watch his others films too ‘cause I have only received positive reviews about them ! 😉

  10. Haha yes, him again, I think I am pretty obsessed with him 🙂 I agree about it, he made so many things new and there’s loads of charisma in his films, you’re right Othilie! 😉 Wow great Loic, we should talk about Mommy later, then! 🙂

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