Xavier Dolan’s Laurence Anyways opens Oct 5

Trans angle a 'metaphor' in award-winning Canadian film

Xavier Dolan’s Laurence Anyways, a love story about a seemingly straight couple whose relationship evolves after the husband reveals that he is, in fact, a woman and wants to transition, opens Friday, Oct 5 at the Vancouver International Film Festival (VIFF).

The film won the Best Canadian Feature award at this year’s Toronto International Film Festival (TIFF), kicking off buzz about a possible Oscar nomination.

Dolan says that the trans angle was employed more as a “metaphor” than to drive the narrative. “It’s mostly a love story,” he says. “What I really wanted to centre on was the dynamics of a couple going through the challenge of being yourself.”

Laurence Anyways is the director’s third feature film. It was previously released in Quebec. Release dates for the US have not yet been set.

Below are interviews with Dolan and other stars at TIFF.

On occasion, the number of editors and other staff who contribute to a story gets a little unwieldy to give a byline to everyone. That’s when we use “Xtra Staff” in place of the usual contributor info. If you would like more information on who contributed to a particular story, please contact us here.

Read More About:
TV & Film, Video, Culture, Vancouver, Arts

Keep Reading

China is cracking down on gay fiction and erotica writers

ANALYSIS: Danmei authors say they have been increasingly targeted with arrests and censorship

Hungary’s prime minister tried to ban Pride. Thousands showed up anyway

Despite Viktor Orbán's right-wing populist government banning Pride, Budapest might have just had the largest Pride parade in its history

Alberta government will challenge injunction against gender-affirming care ban

ANALYSIS: Egale and Skipping Stone celebrated last week’s injunction ruling as a win for trans rights. But the Alberta Premier Danielle Smith signalled that she plans to battle further in court

Zohran Mamdani just showed that Democrats can talk about trans rights and win

ANALYSIS: The 33-year-old is set to win the New York City Democratic mayoral primary with a platform explicitly advocating for trans people