Check out our video interview with Dolan at the 2009 Toronto International Film Festival.
After winning three awards at Cannes and getting rave reviews at the Toronto International Film Festival, 20-year-old Montreal filmmaker Xavier Dolan can chalk up another credit for his feature directorial debut, J’ai tué ma mère (I Killed My Mother). The film has been chosen as Canada’s official entry for Oscar consideration in the Best Foreign Language Film category.
“We are thrilled with this selection,” says Louis Dussault, president of K Films Amerique, the movie’s distributor. “This is an unambiguous encouragement for the young screenwriters of Quebec, and reflects the unique dynamism of Quebec’s cinema culture.”
Though not a guarantee of a nomination, the choice of J’ai tué ma mère does put the film in the running and is in itself considered a huge honour.
J’ai tué ma mère is the semi-autobiographical story of Dolan’s strained relationship with his own mother (played brilliantly in the film by Anne Dorval). The feature shows us a series of clashes mother and son have as they try to come to terms with each other and mend their tortured bond.
Dolan had just completed premiering his film in English Canada at TIFF, where he became the toast of the festival, receiving standing ovations after each screening of J’ai tué ma mère. “I’m thrilled with the success the film’s had,” Dolan told Xtra.ca. “I mean, I dreamed of having this kind of success with it, but now that it’s happening, it’s really incredible.”
Dolan is hoping to shoot his next feature this fall, Laurence Anyways, which will involve trans themes.
Video report by Matt Thomas.
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