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Some critics called this overlong and self indulgent. It probably is both of those things but it’s also really engaging. It’s essentially an on/off love story spanning over several years focused on Laurence and his girlfriend Fred - but with one crucial element – Laurence feels he was born in the wrong body. (I use the pronoun ‘he’ here as that is what the character is introduced to us as).
Xavier Dolan is just such a great writer as well as director. I’ve seen all 7 of his features now and his dialogue in arguments and relationship scenes is so believable. Yes the film strays into some rather lavish territory at times, which seems off kilter with some of the tone but it’s still a very interesting watch. The relationship is charted as Laurence goes through a transition and his partner has to cope with his changes and assess exactly what she wants from life.
Suzanne Clement as Fred is amazing in this film. Utterly brilliant performance. The soundtrack is also great - Depeche Mode, Fever Ray, Kim Carnes, The Cure, Prokofiev, Beethoven, Brahms.
Dolan recently hinted he won’t be making any more films as so few people watch them. Hopefully he was just being churlish as he’s brilliant at it.
'Laurence Anyways' (2012)
Dir.: Xavier Dolan
Dir.: Xavier Dolan
Some critics called this overlong and self indulgent. It probably is both of those things but it’s also really engaging. It’s essentially an on/off love story spanning over several years focused on Laurence and his girlfriend Fred - but with one crucial element – Laurence feels he was born in the wrong body. (I use the pronoun ‘he’ here as that is what the character is introduced to us as).
Xavier Dolan is just such a great writer as well as director. I’ve seen all 7 of his features now and his dialogue in arguments and relationship scenes is so believable. Yes the film strays into some rather lavish territory at times, which seems off kilter with some of the tone but it’s still a very interesting watch. The relationship is charted as Laurence goes through a transition and his partner has to cope with his changes and assess exactly what she wants from life.
Suzanne Clement as Fred is amazing in this film. Utterly brilliant performance. The soundtrack is also great - Depeche Mode, Fever Ray, Kim Carnes, The Cure, Prokofiev, Beethoven, Brahms.
Dolan recently hinted he won’t be making any more films as so few people watch them. Hopefully he was just being churlish as he’s brilliant at it.