The precocious Xavier Dolan, still just 24 years old (but with a phenomenal amount of awards and acclaim under his belt), moves into genre territory with his fourth feature, delivering a compact and audience-friendly thriller.

Following the death of his lover Guillaume, Tom (Dolan) travels to rural Québec for his burial, to the family farm, where mother Agathe remains ignorant of her deceased son’s sexuality. Brother Francis however, knew the truth and uses a mixture of physical and psychological coercion to ensure that Tom doesn’t mistakenly enlighten her. The homoerotic power-play between the two men leads the film into satisfyingly mounting tension. (Notes by Kevin Coyne.)

Winner: FIPRESCI International Critics Award, Venice 2013

Director’s Note: Dolan’s powerful manipulative visual style provides tense climatic sequences, in this volatile psychological thriller.

This film is showing as part of the Carte Noire IFI French Film Festival (November 20th – December 1st, 2013).