Mommy

Set in suburban Montreal, filmmaker Xavier Dolan's edgy, emotionally explosive Mommy centers on the relationship between recently widowed, mercurial, middle-aged Diane “Die” Despres (Anne Dorval) and her 15-year-old son, Steve (Antoine-Olivier Piton), who has ADHD and is prone to loud, violent outbursts and irresponsible actions. After setting a cafeteria fire, combative Steve is expelled from juvenile detention, so Die finds herself having to assume complete care for her uncontrollable teenager. Unexpected help arrives from their neighbor (Suzanne Clement), who agrees to tutor Steve. In Canada, a new law allows an anguished parent to hand over custody of a difficult child to the state—an escape hatch that hovers over this psychodrama. Feisty Die summarily rejects this option, although a youth counselor tells her: “Loving people doesn't save them. Love isn't enough.” Cinematographer André Turpin uses a 1:1 aspect ratio (i.e., the picture is framed in a perfect square), which evokes a claustrophobia that perfectly matches the chaotic subject matter, particularly in close-ups. Capturing an exhausting family struggle, this powerful character study is recommended. (S. Granger)