| J'ai tué ma mère | |
|---|---|
| Directed by | Xavier Dolan |
| Produced by | Xavier Dolan (producer) Carole Mondello (executive producer) Daniel Morin (associate producer) |
| Written by | Xavier Dolan |
| Starring | Xavier Dolan Anne Dorval Suzanne Clément François Arnaud |
| Music by | Nicholas Savard-L'Herbier |
| Cinematography | Stéphanie Weber Biron, Nicolas Canniccioni |
| Editing by | Hélène Girard |
| Release date(s) | May 18, 2009 (Cannes Film Festival) June 5, 2009 (Canada) |
| Running time | 96 minutes |
| Country | Canada |
| Language | French |
| Budget | C$800,000 (estimated) |
| Box office | C$932,803 [1] |
J'ai tué ma mère (English: I Killed My Mother) is a 2009 French Canadian film written and directed by Xavier Dolan. It is an exposé on the complexity of the mother and son bond. The film attracted international press attention when it won three awards from the Director's Fortnight program at the 2009 Cannes Film Festival.[2][3] After being shown, the film received an eight-minute standing ovation.[4]
It was shown in 12 theatres in Quebec[5] and 60 in France.[6][7]
Contents |
The film begins with Hubert Minel (Xavier Dolan) giving a black and white monologue explaining how he loves his mother but can’t stand being her son; he also reveals that when he was younger things were better between them.
Hubert is a 16-year-old Québécois living in suburban Montreal with his single mother, Chantale (Anne Dorval), who divorced Hubert's father, Richard, when he was younger. Hubert barely sees his father and this adds to the animosity between mother and son. Driving him to school one morning an argument starts about Chantale applying make up whilst driving, the argument ends when Chantale stops the car and tells him to walk to school. At school Hubert claims to his teacher, Ms Cloutier that his mother is dead. After the teacher finds out that it is a lie, she expresses this lie as "you killed your mother". This inspires Hubert to write an essay for school titled "I killed my mother".
Later in the film Hubert's friend Antonin (François Arnaud) is revealed to be his boyfriend, but Hubert has not told his mother and she finds out from Antonin's mother, who thought she knew. Chantale, to some extent, accepts his homosexuality; however she appears hurt that her son didn't tell her. Hubert wants to live in his own apartment, and is happy that his mother says it is a good idea, but the next day she has changed her mind and does not allow it, she thinks he is too young. Their relationship continues to deteriorate and Hubert goes to live with his boyfriend. His father Richard invites him over however once there Richard and Chantale tell Hubert they've decided to send him to a boarding school in Coaticook. Hubert is deeply angered that his father makes the decision being as Hubert only see his father at Christmas and Easter.
At the Catholic boarding school Hubert meets Eric (Niels Schneider), with whom he has an affair. Eric invites Hubert to go to a nightclub with the other students, where they kiss and Hubert takes speed. He takes the Metro home, wakes his mother, and has an emotional conversion with her. The next morning, she sends Hubert back to the boarding school.
Back at the school Hubert is beaten by two fellow students. Hubert runs away with the help of Antonin who has borrowed his mother's car, on the journey Antonin tells Hubert that he is selfish and only cares about himself. The school's principal calls Chantale to inform her of the developments as well revealing the note Hubert left; saying he will be "In his Kingdom". The principal also begins to lecture Chantale which causes her to have an angry outburst at him, saying how he thinks he's better than her and who he has no right to judge a single mother. Chantale knows exactly where Hubert's "Kingdom" is; the house he lived as a child with both his parents and indeed Hubert and Antonin are there. Chantale sits next Hubert overlooking the beach. The film ends with a home movie clip of Hubert as a child playing with his mother.
Dolan wrote the script when he was 16 years old.[6] He said in an interview with French Canadian newspaper Le Soleil that the film was in part an autobiography.[8]
The film was at first financed by Dolan, but when need for more money arose, he asked both Téléfilm and the SODEC for subsidies. Both turned him down for different reasons.[8] SODEC, who had loved the project but refused to finance it because it was submitted to a too commercial department, encouraged Dolan to submit it again in more appropriate "indie" department, which he did. In December 2008, SODEC gave him a $400,000 subsidy. In all, the film cost around C$800,000.[6] Dolan said that the system to acquire funding is "[...] an obsolete financing mechanism that holds the creative assets of Quebec hostage."[8]
Dolan won three awards at the 2009 Cannes Film Festival:
And other awards from different festival on the international circuit:
On September 22, 2009, Telefilm announced the film had been selected as Canada's submission for Best Foreign Language film at the 82nd Academy Awards.[9] The film also won the Claude Jutra Award for best feature film by a first-time director at the 30th Genie Awards.