Mommy (2014) film review - a work of art with a poignant message
★★★★☆
As heartbreaking as it is uplifting, ‘Mommy’ explores the rocky relationship between a single Mother and her outspoken, violent son.
Director: Xavier Dolan. Starring: Anne Dorval, Antoine Olivier Pilon, Suzanne Clément, Alexandre Goyette. 18 cert, 139 min.
I have so much to say about this extraordinary film, but I’ll try to keep it brief. ‘Mommy’ is set in Quebec, a French speaking province of Canada, in an imaginary near-future. This future is one that contains the ‘S-14’ legislation, which enables parents to commit their troubled children when they turn 16 to public institutions. As heartbreaking as it is uplifting, ‘Mommy’ explores the rocky relationship between a single Mother and her outspoken, violent son in the context of this new legislation. This is a film which can aptly be described as an emotional rollercoaster. Stylistic and moving, you find yourself sympathising with both parties as they navigate home-schooling, ADHD, friendships, and, most importantly, their love for one another.
Mommy (2014) film poster artwork
A touching but realistic depiction of unconditional love
Directed by Xavier Dolan, ‘Mommy’ is an ambitious study of the highs and lows of the relationship between Diane Després and her son Steve. Diane, played by Anne Dorval, is independent, resourceful, and determined. Dolan paints Diane as a Mother desperately in love with her son, willing to do anything for his benefit. However, ‘Mommy’ is never idealistic, and its characters never perfect. Diane is also tired and short-tempered, understandably so considering Steve’s eviction from an institution in the opening scene of the film. But this does not change the fact that she always appears to have her son’s back. Because of this, ‘Mommy’ is a touching but realistic depiction of unconditional love. Though the relationship between Steve and Diane is unconventional, Dolan’s masterful portrayal is perhaps one of the best love stories in cinematic history.
Steve, played by Antoine Olivier Pilon, has the outward appearance of a good kid; and maybe the primary message in ‘Mommy’ is that many of these troubled children are. Unpredictable but never boring, Steve enacts an intense, protective form of love over Diane. This is displayed in his gifting of a stolen necklace to her with the golden cursive ‘Mommy.’ Steve's relationship with his Mother appears unstable as it fluctuates between shouting matches, fights, and candid acts of affection. Both members struggle with emotional baggage from Diane’s husband’s death, as well as the isolation that Steve’s condition has forced them into. This is where their guardian angel appears, in the form of a suburban Mom/neighbour with a speech impediment. Kyla, played by Suzanne Clément, becomes a steadying third party in the Mother and son relationship when she accepts an invitation to homeschool Steve.
One of the greatest scenes in contemporary cinema
It is no surprise that ‘Mommy’ has won a range of different awards, including the Jury award at the 2014 Cannes Film Festival. The most striking aspect of this film for me, aside from its unadulterated melodrama, is undoubtedly its cinematography. It was shot in a 1:1 aspect ratio, which is essentially a square, as opposed to the traditional rectangular shape of tv and cinema screens. For me, this limited camera style is representative of the claustrophobia felt by Diane in her endeavour to raise Steve alone. This is particularly poignant in a montage scene of the unusual family unit. This scene is, in my opinion, on of the greatest scenes in contemporary cinema.
Kyla has earned the respect and love of Steve and is helping him study, whilst Diane works at her new job. It appears everything is going well for the film’s central characters. We see Steve skateboarding as his new friend and Mother cycle behind him. With ‘Wonderwall’ playing in the background, the ratio slowly expands until we finally get a full shot of the entire screen. For the first time in the film, and perhaps for the first time ever for Steve and Diane, their world acquires a little bit of peace.
The poignant message in ‘Mommy’
Warning: contains spoilers. Unfortunately, this peace doesn’t last for long. With the threat of legal proceedings over Steve’s injuring of another child in his former institution looming, his relationship with Diane becomes once again unstable. We’ve seen the change in aspect ratio used before, and we see it once more in a heartbreaking montage of Steve’s potential future. We see him graduating and eventually married, with Diane and Kyla watching on proudly. The soundtrack to Dolan’s ‘Mommy’ is incredible. From Ludovico Einaudi’s ‘Experience’ to Lana Del Rey’s ‘Born to Die,’ it manages to capture moments in time in a way which is tragically beautiful.
At the end of ‘Mommy,’ we see Diane eventually giving in and committing Steve to a state institution, contrary to this alternative future that we see. There, he is tied up like the animal he is perceived to be by most of those around him. As viewers, we know different. Dolan uses his experience of being sent to boarding school at a young age by his Mother to empathise with Steve. However, he also does this without demonising Diane, making their tragic story one of circumstantial bad luck. In the final scene of the film, we see Steve break free from his wards and jump out of a first-floor window. This dramatic bid for freedom is a shocking end to an entirely touching, sentimental and heartfelt film.
Should you watch this before you die?
Overall, ‘Mommy’ can be viewed as an allegory for the failure of state to protect and nurture children like Steve. It is a film which will not fail to emotionally affect you and impart on you its strong message. With a standout soundtrack, convincing acting, and unique cinematography, Dolan’s work is a film which I truly believe everyone should watch at least once. With a bold representation of the ties of familial love, ‘Mommy’ will make you laugh and cry as it manoeuvres its way through one of the hardest subjects to pursue onscreen.