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:
Video, Culture, TV & Film, Vancouver, Arts

Keep Reading

Who gets to claim parental rights?

Xtra and TVO’s Unravelled partnered on this mini-doc diving into what "parental rights" policies mean for kids and parents across Canada

Second Alberta town votes to ban Pride flags, rainbow crosswalks

Barrhead residents voted this week in favour of new “neutrality” bylaw

Xtra Explains: Parental rights

What does Canadian law actually say when it comes to the rights of parents and trans kids?

Xtra Explains: Social vs. medical transition

Media and politicians like to fixate on the medical aspects of transition. But for most trans youth, social transition plays a much bigger part in their lives