MOMMY (d. Xavier Dolan, Canada, 139 mins, cert 15, in French and English, with subtitles)
Winner of last year's Jury Prize at Cannes, where it was also nominated for the Queer Palm, this is the feature film that will give up-and-coming and gay Montréal-based director his biggest breakthrough yet.
Not for all tastes, MOMMY is a non-stop edgy domestic mother-son 'thriller' about the unwavering devotion of a single mother ((Anne Dorval) to her out-of-control and often violent son (Antoine O...
MOMMY (d. Xavier Dolan, Canada, 139 mins, cert 15, in French and English, with subtitles)
Winner of last year's Jury Prize at Cannes, where it was also nominated for the Queer Palm, this is the feature film that will give up-and-coming and gay Montréal-based director his biggest breakthrough yet.
Not for all tastes, MOMMY is a non-stop edgy domestic mother-son 'thriller' about the unwavering devotion of a single mother ((Anne Dorval) to her out-of-control and often violent son (Antoine Olivier Pilon, like a young, skinny and pretty version of Boris Johnson) whose attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) is a source of terror to those around him, occasionally including his mother. Dolan has created an ugly, claustrophobic and visceral world of extremes with a flagrant disregard for middle-class tastefulness, gentility, calm and sweetness. There are moments of intense feeling between mother and child, but there's no easy ending for them.
Most of the film employs an uncomfortably narrow aspect ratio.
The film has won nine awards at the recent Canadian Screen Awards and has received many other acknowledgements including France's César Award for best foreign film.
‘Astonishing & powerful – Mommy is everything cinema should be’
Sam Ashurst, DAZED
‘Brilliant and very funny in ways which smash through the barriers marked incorrect and inappropriate’ ****
Peter Bradshaw, THE GUARDIAN
'Cinema doesn’t come much more exuberant and raw' ****
Dave Calhoun, TIME OUT
‘A heart-swelling breathtaking piece of cinema’
Richard Lawson, VANITY FAIR
JURY PRIZE – CANNES FILM FESTIVAL 2014
DIRECTED BY XAVIER DOLAN (TOM AT THE FARM, I KILLED MY MOTHER)
A passionate widowed single mom (Anne Dorval) finds herself burdened with the full-time custody of her unpredictable 15-year-old ADHD son (Antoine Olivier Pilon). As they struggle to make ends meet, Kyla (Suzanne Clément), the peculiar new neighbour across the street, offers her help. Together, they strive for a new sense of balance.
Mommy is directed, written and produced by Xavier Dolan and stars Anne Dorval, Suzanne Clément and Antoine Olivier Pilon
Antoine Olivier Pilon as the son in MOMMY
