I Killed My Mother

Aroview: An angst ridden teen grapples with growing up gay and his neurotic, overbearing mother in this feisty first feature from young French Canadian upstart Xavier Dolan.

Mired in ‘first world problems’, Dolan’s film is nonetheless an impressive piece of moviemaking, both distinct and confident in its handling of film grammar and visual convention (Godard and Wong Kar-wai are clearly worshipped). A keen sense of humour also puts pay to the script’s chronic self-absorption; forgivable when you consider Dolan wrote, produced, directed and starred in the film, all before the age of 20.