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I have waited a long time to see this film by Xavier Dolan.

I Killed My Mother (2009)

A big hit at Cannes, Dolan was only 19 when he made this film. For some reason, it comes to disc after his second successful film Heartbeats(2011). A third is on its way.

In this one the eternal drama between son and mother is played out with a lot of drama between Hubert and his mom Chantal.

I identify with the strong feelings of "hatred" on the part of the son for a mother who is too close and too intense. It's complicated.

And if you are a gay son all the more so especially with the pressure to be, oh well, honest. Hubert's mom is a single mom although there is a really butch Dad who does not offer enough of himself for even the slightest Oedipus play so Mom gets it all.

This film, like his later work, is funny and continuously innovative. There is a narration in black and white and a lot of stuff going on with the camera none of which detracts but is fun nonetheless.

Hubert has a great boyfriend. They are happy together. Antonin loves Hubert and is honest with him when he needs it most because Hubert must be told. He is a brat.

And, unlike Antonin, has not come out to his mother. She finds out about Antonin from his mother through a PTA acquaintance.

But, interestingly, that is not the issue so much as that he hasn't told her. The usual. Although knowing it made it worse in my case I know that is the exception. My mother never accepted me but that is another movie and another story entirely.

I liked this a lot and when Mom lets go near the end, we have a major league resolution of conflict. Antonin is there to be of comfort but nothing can fix the thing better than Mom.

This is a Netflix5 out of 5. I am getting the film for our gay library even though it is only gay-ish in content.

That said, the wall painting scene with Hubert and Antonin is famous as an out take on gay web sites all over the world. Splatter, splatter, roll on the floor, paint in the hair, clothes off. That kind of thing. He does it fast motion to take away some of the distractions of the scene but it is still sexy as hell and there is always the slo mo on the machine for getting it all down.

Labels: films