Confirming the promise he showed with his debut feature, How I Killed My Mother, 22 year-old Xavier Dolan also takes the lead in this Montreal variation on François Truffaut’s Jules Et Jim, as he vies with gal pal Monia Chokri for the affections of new-in-town hunk Niels Schneider. Seething with catty lines and hip visuals that owe as much to Wong Kar-Wai, François Ozon and Christophe Honoré as the Nouvelle Vague, this hugely stylish paean to unrequited lust peppers the action with vox pops to emphasise its points. But it’s the fond rivalry between Dolan and Chokri (that eventually brings them to blows during a ménage stay in the country) that makes this such a vibrant insight into twentysomething attitudes to life, love and loyalty.
Heartbeats Review
When Montreal couple Marie (Monia Chokri) and Francis (Xavier Dolan) meet Nick (Niels Schneider), a recent arrival from the countryside, a furtive bond begins to develop between the three.
Release Date:
27 May 2011
Running Time:
101 minutes
Certificate:
15
Original Title:
Heartbeats
A fizzing delight that tips a nod to the masters of the French New Wave without sacrificing its identity or sense of freshness. Recommended.
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