14th Hall of Fame

At the start of the film, I found the 1:1 aspect ratio to be incredibly distracting, and I wasn't sure if I'd be able to stop thinking about it. I did eventually come to appreciate not only the intimacy it provided, but also how it was a visual representation of how trapped the main characters felt in their daily lives. For the few short scenes in which the aspect ratio changes, the difference almost seems overwhelming, while also giving a sense of relief and freedom. When it changes back to its original ratio, the effects of that narrow field of vision become all the more apparent. One could argue that the odd aspect ratio is nothing more than a gimmick, but I thought it was incredibly successful.

The Oedipal undertones to the relationship between Dia and Steve were very uncomfortable, particularly early in the film when all we see is their irritability and crassness, but I imagine that that was entirely intentional. I felt absolutely no sympathy for either character, until after that violent escalation that brings Kyla into their lives. I found Kyla and her unexplained but obviously tragic backstory to be the most interesting character in the film, and loved seeing how her interactions with Die and Steve helped her come out of her shell. The calming effect she had on the mother and son was greatly appreciated as well.

The film does not shy away from showcasing that heavy Québécois dialect, and its creative Catholic swearing. Some people may find the language or subtitles difficult to follow, but I just found it to be unmistakably Canadian. Though mostly unrelated to this film, I found it amusing that I had mentioned Bon Cop, Bad Cop to someone in PM just minutes before sitting down to watch Mommy, not knowing that Patrick Huard was in this film as well. My only real issue with Mommy was that its setting of a fictional Canada where one particular law is passed felt unnecessary, and as though it existed only to serve the plot and tell the audience in advance where the story was going. But luckily it didn't affect my overall enjoyment of the film. This is a great nomination that I'm glad I got the chance to see.