Mommy

Five years ago, Xavier Dolan presented his feature debut I Killed My Mother at Cannes Directors’ Fortnight – a raw tale of a boy’s emotional endeavour to connect with his mother. Five films later, at the tender age of 25, he presents Mommy.

A widowed single mother, Diane, finds herself burdened with the full-time custody of her explosive 15-year-old son, Steve, a sufferer of ADHD. As they try to make ends meet and struggle with their impetuous and unpredictable ménage, the new girl across the street, Kyla, benevolently offers needed support. Together, they find a new sense of balance in their lives, and hope is regained.

Everything about Mommy is handled with care and precision by the young director, including the unusual aspect ratio of the screen. Dolan’s vision tactfully encourages the viewer to focus on the details of everyday life; the things that make it beautiful and the things that make it hard. The characters, like the aspect ratio, challenge the perception of “normal”, reminding us that sometimes you have to push the limits in order to see the big picture and find hope.

The three actors are impeccable, giving their characters a rare depth from the first scene to the last. As they go through hell and back again, we share their laughter and their tears, their fears and their pain, but most of all we share their hope.

Set in a near future where a certain amendment has been approved regarding parents and their children, Mommy is a film about love, limits and humanity.

Liloïe Cazorla

Mommy is released nationwide on 20^th March 2015.

Watch the trailer for Mommy here: