PRESS CONFERENCE – Xavier Dolan: “When I write a film, I have already made the trailer”

A great numer of journalists came to listen to Xavier Dolan and the entire team behind Mommy. The actresses Anne Dorval and Suzanne Clément were with the director, as well as Antoine Olivier Pilon, making his film debut, and the producer Nancy Grant. Extracts.
 

Xavier Dolan on the choice of a 1:1 aspect ratio: “Distractions are removed. The spectator’s vision is captured by the character’s gaze. Of course, there are great possibilities that allow you to play with language. Goodbye to language!”
 

His decision to work on several aspects of the film, especially the costumes: “They are often neglected in films. Yet it is the first visual contact with the viewer. I do what I like to do, I try to stop when I don’t know what I am doing.”
 

Suzanne Clement on the liberties taken when filming: “Everything is written down already, even the music, it is all extremely structured. During filming, there is a certain pleasure in letting go. There are scenes that becomes something else because Xavier leads us in another direction, one to which we didn’t expect to give ourselves over. Xavier knows all his characters. He becomes each of his characters.”

Xavier Dolan on his references: “My references are far fewer in number than the ones people want to attach to me. Yes I have heroes. The one to whom I feel closest is Gus Van Sant. His films have a freedom of form, they are not always straightforward, there are digressions that create emotion.”

Quotes selected by Tarik Khaldi