È solo la fine del mondo

More like a stage play than a movie, about an extremely unlikable family. I wouldn't want to spend more than one minute in the company of any of them. All they do is shout at each other. I'm not surprised that Louis never visited them. Whether you watch this to the end or not depends on your tolerance for screaming idiots. My advice is ... don't.

The story is familiar. because the portrait of dysfunctional family is not rare in the cinema of last decades. but the film has a fundamental virtue - it is a Xavier Dolan work. and that change everything. because not the conflicts, vulnerabilities, isolation, angry and fears, the return of the son are the basic aspects. but the precise and not comfortable image of loneliness. using admirable cinematography. the right actors. the close up. the forceof silence. the small gestures and shadows of memories. the admirable cold dialogues. and the last part as ideal building for a search who becomes out of target. a film who impress. not only for artistic value. but for remarkable science to present the things who are out of us being inside us. frustrations, intentions, the desire to be far by the other who could represent only the stranger. who is just an accident. so, a beautiful Xavier Dolan.

Somehow even worse than your run-of-the-mill terrible movies. "Waterworld" and "Catwoman" are basically benign. Xavier Dolan, with his big name cast, his pretensions of art-house cinematography, his maudlin dialogue, and his iMovie sound mixing, really insults the moviegoers. He thinks we'll eat up this kind of crap-- and, if Cannes is any indicator, we totally have.

I really think that the only real pleasure anyone can derive from watching this Lifetime-Movie-knockoff of a film is by turning around in your seat and watching everyone try to maintain the 'studious cinephile' straight face while watching a slow-motion tear fall from Vincent Cassel's eye. There's also a winning bit with the "Numa Numa" song played over images of children frolicking through a field at dusk. Nostalgia.

Critics shouldn't be criticizing films they don't understand. Xavier Dolan's movies are extremely subtle in their acting and dialogues which I think makes it more difficult for non-French speakers to understand. This is especially true for this film since the movie is based upon the impossibility to communicate. That's probably why most of the bad reviews come from American newspapers. I mean, I'm French and I honestly admire non-French speaking fans of Dolan because subtitles aren't enough to communicate the subtlety of each word and tone. Aside from that it's only a matter of taste.

I agree on the fact that some characters are a bit stereotyped, especially during the scenes in which the whole family is gathered. However each actor has a scene in which they speak in private with Louis and that's when their characters get interesting. The film is aesthetically brilliant and allows you to understand things only eyes can communicate. The movie constantly creates an emotional tension, something I've rarely felt.

This is the latest film from Xavier Dolan who continues to surprise with his very human stories. This time he has gone for an 'A list' of French talent. The story is from the stage play of the same name and is about Louis (Gaspard Ulliel 'A Very Long Engagement') who is a successful writer; he has not been home for twelve years and has now only returned to announce that he is dying – but he does not know how to do it.

On arrival at his home he is met by his family, mother, older brother and much younger sister. His brother, Antoine, played by Vincent Cassel is a man who seems to have got more than his fair share of life's anger but has married a shy creature – Catherine – played by Marion Cotillard in a way that she owns the role, it is completely convincing. The whole day is played out in linear format as the characters stumble into each other always seeming to be on the edge of imploding.

This is not an easy to watch movie as the tension can be uncomfortable but that makes it a better film for it. This is real 'Arthouse' in that it takes a different path to many that have gone before and is becoming a welcomed trademark of Xavier Dolan.

If you liked any of his previous films then you are probably already sold on this, if you are new to him then switch off any expectations and let this film seep into your psyche, it will be worth the effort.