Cast : Xavier Dolan, François Arnaud, Anne Dorval, Suzanne Clément
2009 / LGBTQIA+ / Canada / original title : J'ai tué ma mère / 96’ / status : completed / French / long feature-film / International collections
Focusing on the relationship between Hubert Minel (Xavier Dolan), a 16-year-old Quebecois living in suburban Montreal, and his single mother Chantale (Anne Dorval), I KILLED MY MOTHER beautifully captures the anxieties of a mother-son relationship. While he gauges her with contempt, only seeing her out-of-date sweater and kitschy decor, the ingrained mechanisms (i.e. manipulation and guilt) of their relationship beautifully (and tragically) unravel on the big screen. After its 2009 debut, I KILLED MY MOTHER was nominated for dozens of international film festival awards, and quickly became an international sensation – launching Dolan’s career in the international film scene.
Press
«Mr. Dolan has a freewheeling style.»
The New York Times
«This just might be as close as we'll ever get to seeing "Catcher in the Rye" on the screen. Truly hilarious.»
IndieWire
«It's a strong debut from one of cinema's most exciting young talents, and the chance to finally see where it all started shouldn't be missed.»
Mattie Lucas, From the Front Row
