TOM AT THE FARM/TOM A LA FERME

Canada, 2013, 102 minutes, Colour.
Xavier Dolan, Pierre- Yves Cardinal, Lise Roy, Evelyne Brochu.
Directed by Xavier Dolan.

Tom at the Farm was written and directed by Canada’s wunderkind, Xavier Dolan, how not only directed but also acted and contributed costume design as well as English subtitles.

Dolan made a strong impact with his film I Killed My Mother, winning awards and then continuing to have his films screened at festivals, Heartbeats, Lawrence Anyways, and then this film. He was to go on to greater success with his next film, Mommy.

Dolan weaves into his films themes of sexual orientation and this is true of this film, the leading character, Tom, grieving the death of his partner, travelling to visit the family and to give the eulogy at the funeral. It does not quite work out this way, his baulking at giving the eulogy, his ways of trying to comfort the mother, the intimidation of the older brother who seems to be homophobic and is suspicious of his own orientations. Tom who runs an advertising agency becomes somewhat exhilarated by his work on the farm, the milking and, especially, the birth of a calf. There are also complications with the young woman who works at the company and is assumed, because of a photo, the family assuming that she is the deceased’s girlfriend.

Tom does not stay on the farm but goes to some kind of future where the film ends. Dolan himself, while an effective director, is also an effective factor.

1. The work and Xavier Dolan, his age, film experience, writer, director, actor, costume designer, English subtitles?

2. The adaptation of a play? Opening it out? Dialogue? Locations? The musical score?

3. The title, the focus on Tom, the reality of the farm, the background of his lover, its effect on him? Going to the farm, the occasion of death, grief? Work?

4. The drive, the farm landscapes, the visit to the farm, no one at home? Tom’s appearance, hair colour spikes, clothes? Searching on the farm, going into the house, Agathe meeting him, her welcome?

5. Agathe, the mother, her concern for the family, her dead husband, the farm, Francis running the farm, the hard work? Love for her son, his leaving, no communication afterwards? The photo with Sarah? Her hopes about his relationships? The funeral, expectations about Tom’s speaking, his not giving the eulogy, the sadness? The return home, laughing at the sex stories? The meeting with Sarah? Francis, his talking to Tom, while dancing, hoping his mother would die, the possibility of putting her in a home? Her overhearing this?

6. The character of Francis, older, looking on, his not wanting to stay on the farm, the details of the work, the milking, the machinery, the birth of the calf? His threats to Tom, about secrecy, supporting his mother? At the funeral, his anger Tom’s not speaking? Working with Tom on the farm? His skill in dancing, dancing with Tom? His homophobia? Tom the bar, hearing the barman tell the story of Francis and his tearing the young homosexual’s face, and the visualising of this scene scene – and the touch with Tom’s seeing the young man at the service station?

7. Tom, working on the farm, the effect on him, the different experience, hard work, clothes, the shower? With Francis? Hearing the story? His decision to leave?

8. Tom asking Sarah to visit, the pretence for the sake of the mother, the conversations, slip ups, interaction with Francis? Francis and his approach, her wanting to leave? Sexual tension?

9. Tom, the decision to leave, despite his liking the work on the farm, going back to his own work, into the city, the experience, learning about his partner – and perhaps his infidelities?