I Killed My Mother (2009) Anne Dorval, Xavier Dolan, François Arnaud, Suzanne Clément Movie Review

I Killed My Mother (2009)   4/54/54/54/54/5


Xavier Dolan in I Killed My Mother (2009)

Dolan's Teenage Turmoil

Teenager Hubert Minel (Xavier Dolan) is a young gay man who lives with his mum Chantale (Anne Dorval), no father as his parents got divorced. But that means those feelings of anger which many a teenager has towards their parents whilst growing up for not understanding and being unfair are all taken out on her with no one having taught the arrogant and angry teenager any respect. With the frequency and ferocity of their arguments increasing Chantale decides that maybe Hubert would be better off away from her and so decides to send him to boarding school. Of course Hubert has to be angry at this.

At the time of making "I Killed My Mother" actor, writer, director Xavier Dolan was 20 years old and it has to be said this is an impressive movie for a 20 year old. Take the style which let me just say has film school all over it with sudden shots in black & white, random camera angles and often that sense of being pretentious which normally I can't stand. But Dolan seems to understand how to use these elements to enhance the movie rather than dominate it and to have that grip on cinematic style at just 20 is either natural talent or this was a one off fluke.

But it isn't just the grasp of the style which impresses but also the writing and his grasp on those feelings of teenage anger towards a parent as all you can see is them spoiling your life is spot on. Strangely watching Hubert constant moaning reminded me of Harry Enfield's comic creation Kevin but here the spoilt nature of Hubert is much more biting, watching him mock and verbally attack his mother for everything is extremely powerful. Although with Dolan being just 20 and with this being semi-autobiographical you know that his closeness to the subject matter undoubtedly helped matters in bringing this to life.

What is interesting is how "I Killed My Mother" makes you feel. Now I remember those feelings of my parents not understanding me and being uncool when I was a teenager yet watching how Hubert acts towards his mother I couldn't help but feel there is a case that some children should be drowned at birth. Of course I am kidding but Hubert's antagonistic nature and superior attitude as he literally looks down his nose is so full on that you can't but feel that this kid lacks discipline despite his confused feelings towards his mother as every now and then he loves her. As such I have to praise Dolan again as it is an extremely believable performance as is that of Anne Dorval who plays his mother.

What this all boils down to is that "I Killed My Mother" is actually a very impressive piece of cinema from a young talent with a grasp on style, a talent for writing and can act too. Yes the film school nature of some of "I Killed My Mother" won't be too everyone's tastes but it does not dominate the movie in the way that it feels too pretentious.


LATEST REVIEWS