Laurence Anyways (Xavier Dolan, 2012): Canada / France

Reviewed by Emma Karlsson. Viewed at Santa Barbara Film Festival 2013.

Laurence Anyways is a Canadian / French drama written and directed by the young Canadian director Xavier Dolan, acknowledged for his debut hit J’ai tué ma mère (2009). Laurence Anyways had great success at the 2012 Cannes Film Festival where it won the Queer Palm Award, and at the Toronto International Film Festival where it took home the Best Canadian Feature Film award. 

Laurence (Melvil Poupaud) and Fred (Suzanne Clément) are a dynamic couple that both fulfill each others need to be different. Together they sway slightly away from the norm, and feel comfortable and safe in the bubble of quirky joy they have created. Their strong, unique relationship is tested when Laurence reveals his most well-kept secret to Fred; he wants to start living his life as a woman. Laurence explains how he has felt trapped in his male body for as long as he can remember, and he states that he finally wants to be true to himself. Fred is shocked by the news, and does not fully understand where this urge to suddenly change gender / become transexual comes from. Fred sees the decision more as an attack on their perfect relationship. However, their love overcomes and Fred decides to stand next to Laurence side while going through this life-changing process.

Step by step Laurence transforms into the woman he always felt like he was meant to be. In the beginning Fred is supportive and even encourage Laurence to wear wigs, put on make up and wear woman’s clothes. As time passes and as Laurence starts to feel more secure and comfortable in his new skin, Fred feels robbed from the female-attention that Laurence now receives. The two separates, but never stays out of touch.

Music plays an essential roll in the film, and you can tell that music videos are a great inspiration to Dolan. Fever Ray’s “If I Had a Heart” plays early in the film, and being familiar with most of The Knife and Fever Ray’s videos a connection can quickly be seen. Not only with the cinematic style, but also themes of transsexuality and self-expression. The arty-party electro vibe that strongly focus on expression of individuality is present throughout the film. The cinematographic style of the whole film has many similar elements to music videos, where the characters even seem to give looks to the beat of the music.

Another important aspect of the film is the time period. The film is set in the 1980s/90s, when many people focused and fought for equal rights for everyone no matter what sexuality or gender. Canada included LGBT rights in the Constitution of Canada back in 1982/85. The time period therefore makes sense; the film pays a great tribute to its time period’s culture and people. What is great and refreshing about the film is that it doesn’t treat Laurence or his fellow transexual friends as victims. Instead the film focus more on the personal issues transexual people faces – in this case how Laurence and Fred’s relationship changes. The complications that comes along when you love someone, but when the need to be yourself is bigger than keeping that person and what you had together.

In conclusion Laurence Anyways is a beautiful portrait of strong individuals, told with a lot of respect and love. The film is in my opinion however way too long, filled with too many sequences that would be more suited in real music videos. Spreading the story over 10 years is already making it a long film, even without the cool editing pieces.