MOMMY written and directed by Xavier Dolan, with Anne Dorval, Antoine-Olivier Pilon and Suzanne Clément. An eOne release. 139 minutes. Subtitled. Opens Friday (October 3). For venues and times, see Movies. Rating: NNNN
Precocious auteur Xavier Dolan (J’ai Tué Ma Mère, Lawrence Anyways) again mines the rocky relationship between mother and son in this exceptional film about a single parent (Anne Dorval) coping, barely, with the troubled, often violent son (Antoine Olivier Pilon) she loves. Things start looking up when she befriends a neighbour (Suzanne Clément) with speech problems.
Pilon’s Steve is an endearing sweetheart when under control, but terrifying when he loses it. As the tough mom who dresses like a teenager, Dorval is equally incendiary, and it’s a tribute to Clément’s gift that she can match her in a much quieter role.
Operatic, beautiful and explosive, Mommy is wholly unpredictable. Dolan has turned into one of Canada’s best filmmakers.