About

A strikingly audacious and deeply evocative piece of contemporary cinema, Xavier Dolan’s Mommy is an unashamedly intimate visual portrait of mothers and motherhood.

Set in a fictious Canada, the film tells the story of a young widow named Diane (‘Die’) who is struggling to care for her neurodivergent teenage son. Die (Anne Dorval) and her son Steve (Antoine-Olivier Pilon) are deep in the throes of an emotional battle to keep Steve in school (and their world from exploding) when an unexpected reprieve comes in the form of a transformative relationship with their enigmatic neighbour Kyla (Suzanne Clément).

In Mommy, Dolan delicately integrates autobiographical influences with stylish filmmaking to shape a sophisticated drama that reflects the director’s fascination with the human condition. The film is shot largely in the 1:1 ratio which keeps a tight framing on the characters faces, amplifying the emotional intensity of the acting and storytelling — a technique first used by Dolan in the gritty black and white music video College Boy 2013.

The film’s two lead performances are supercharged, as they fearlessly embrace their characters, making for a gripping and deeply affecting viewing experience.

MA15+ | Strong themes and coarse language