Xavier Dolan’s Laurence Anyways, a love story about a straight couple whose relationship evolves after the man’s revelation that he is transgender, opens Friday, Sept 21.
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 is an interview with Dolan at TIFF.