Matthias & Maxime

Matthias & Maxime is a 2019 Canadian drama film that marks a significant return behind the camera for the young Canadian auteur Xavier Dolan. After his directorial debut with "I Killed My Mother" at the age of 20, Dolan has garnered worldwide acclaim for his intuitive storytelling style and meticulous directorial control. In Matthias & Maxime, Dolan brings these skills to bear in a film about growing up and reconciling messy, complicated feelings with the rigidity of societal norms. The film explores brotherhood, friendship, unvoiced passions, lifelong bonds, and the angst of belonging to the 'almost 30‘ generation.

The story revolves around two childhood best friends, Matthias (Gabriel D'Almeida Freitas) and Maxime (Xavier Dolan), who are part of a tight-knit group in Montreal. They're edging toward 30, with the worries and responsibilities of adulthood looming large. Maxime, marked by a birthmark on his face, plans to leave Montreal soon to work in Australia, hoping it would bring a fresh start to his gloomy life dominated by his alcoholic mother. Meanwhile, Matthias is more aligned with societal expectations, progressing in his career as a lawyer at a reputable firm and maintaining a steady relationship with his girlfriend, Sarah.

The compelling narrative of the film unrolls when the pair are asked to share a kiss for a student short film that another friend from their group is making. The incident leaves them both unsettled, instigating a state of quandary that quietly upends their lives. Both are confronting their emerging feelings, which leads to an examination of their relationship, unveiling suppressed emotions, and challenging the boundaries of their friendship.

Dolan, wearing the dual hats of director and actor, puts forth an utterly compelling performance as Maxime, capturing the character’s conflicts, vulnerabilities and yearnings with a type of understated brilliance. Equally entrancing is Gabriel D'Almeida Freitas as Matthias, who excels in eliciting the complexities and internal turmoil of his character with a quiet intensity that complements Dolan’s performance. The chemistry between their characters is a major driving force of the film.

Even though Matthias & Maxime is marked by the inherent seriousness and emotional profundity of its theme, it does not hold back from impregnating the film with moments of light-heartedness and humor. The group dynamics of the tightly-knit friends are drawn out with both warmth and authenticity, contributing to the film's occasional comedic relief while also building on a palpable sense of intimacy and camaraderie that grounds the story.

In terms of visual storytelling, the film demonstrates Dolan's stylistic flair. There's a thoughtful use of color, from the oppressive grey palette denoting Maxime's problematic home life to the colorful exuberance of friendly gatherings. Notably, there's an inspired depiction of the transformative kiss through a 'film within a film' format that imparts an interesting surreal quality to this pivotal moment.

The film's eloquent exploration of complex emotions is further heightened by its score and sound design. Dolan uses music as a narrative tool to reflect the characters' emotional states and build the film's overall mood, adding depth to the storytelling.

A theme that Dolan masterfully explores in Matthias & Maxime is the stifling power of social norms and expectations, specifically focused on issues of masculinity and friendship. Both characters grapple with societal pressures in different ways, and their struggles are portrayed in a nuanced and humane manner that generates an empathetic connection.

Matthias & Maxime, while revolving around an intimate drama between two close friends, talks to us about broader themes of love, loyalty, and identity. It is a result of Dolan's keen understanding of human emotion and sharp directorial vision, which lends this film its unique, melancholic resonance. All in all, the film is a heartfelt exploration of an emotional awakening and an empathetic examination of the anxieties and dilemmas that often come with adulthood.