The Plot: Diane Després (Anne Dorval) is struggling to raise her ADHD-addled son Steve (Antoine Olivier Pilon), whose outbursts are becoming increasingly violent, when the appearance of their new neighbour Kyla (Suzanne Clément) seems to finally bring some balance to their delicate life. Why It's Awesome: That any 25-year-old can make a film of such depth and brilliance is pretty astounding, but of course, this is Xavier Dolan's fifth work to date, so it's no surprise that he demonstrates the resolve and maturity of someone far beyond his years. Shot in a 1:1 aspect ratio, Mommy uses this peculiar framing to box its characters in during their most desperate moments, and then occasionally stretches the screen out in brief instances of reprieve. The three central performances are uniformly excellent, and it's easily Dolan's strongest work to date. How To Watch It: On VOD now (Canada) / In limited cinemas now (UK)
Stay at home dad who spends as much time teaching his kids the merits of Martin Scorsese as possible (against the missus' wishes).
General video game, TV and film nut. Occasional sports fan. Full time loon.
