Xavier Dolan

The Profile

Xavier Dolan (born 1989) is a Canadian filmmaker, screenwriter and actor from Quebec. He debuted with I Killed My Mother (2009) at Cannes and went on to direct Laurence Anyways (Queer Palm), Tom at the Farm, Mommy (Jury Prize), and It's Only the End of the World (Grand Prix). Known for pop-infused soundtracks, bold aspect ratios and intimate close-ups.

Born 1989, Canadian (Quebec) filmmaker; active since 2009; Cannes Jury Prize for Mommy (2014) and Grand Prix for It's Only the End of the World (2016); Laurence Anyways won the Queer Palm and Suzanne Clément won Best Actress (Un Certain Regard); frequent use of pop music and stylized framing (1:1 in Mommy).

DeBaser’s reviews admire Dolan’s Mommy for its life-affirming energy, pop-forward soundtrack and bold 1:1 framing. Laurence Anyways is praised for scope, style and Cannes recognition. Tom à la ferme and È solo la fine del mondo are considered solid but less inspired, with dialogue and musical emphases questioned. Overall take: inventive, emotionally charged cinema with peaks in Mommy.