LAURENCE ANYWAYS

Canada, 2012, 160 minutes, Colour.
Melvil Poupaud, Suzanne Clement, Nathalie Baye.
Directed by Xavier Dolan.

Laurence Anyways was written and directed by Xavier Dolan, a young Canadian director who had made a significant impression before turning thirty. His films include I Killed my Mother, Mommy, Thomas at the Farm, Heartbeats, It’s Only the End of the World and The Death and The Life of John F. Donovan. Laurence Anyways is one of his earlier films, released when he was 23.

This is quite a long film, the action taking place over a decade, from 1989 to 1999, evoking a great deal of the decade (when the director was still under 10).

Melville Poupaud portrays Laurence, a writer, an academic and lecturer, who is conscious that he is really a woman. The 1990s was introducing transgender themes more strongly than previously but still not understood or accepted. Laurence is in a relationship with Fred, an intense woman who loves him but with whom he begins to share more and more his desire to be a woman. Ultimately, she is not able to sustain the relationship even though they meet again when Laurence has accepted his destiny.

The film is a character study of Laurence, not looking exactly feminine, but behaving in a feminine way, adopting women’s clothes, even in the lecture room, and gradually moving more comfortably into his identity.

In the background are his mother (Nathalie Baye) who does not accept him, his sister, Fred’s sister and a group of circus troopers, eccentric in their own way, who are supportive.

It can be said that the film is a courageous one and continued to confirm the reputation of Xavier Dolan as a significant filmmaker with significant themes.

1. The work of Xavier Dolan, his career, success at an early age, his range of interests? Sexuality? Gender?

2. The Canadian settings, Montréal, Québec? From 89 to 99? The period, the look, background, clothes and decor? The musical score?

3. The title, the focus on Laurence, 14 years? His age, gender, his quest?

4. The structure, interview with the journalist, the timespan, moving in and out of different times, the dates and places given?

5. The audience, the issue of transgender, the issue in the 1990s, reactions, possibilities? Later?

6. The character of Laurence, introduction to him, in his 30s, character and himself? His background, family, the alienation from his mother and the scenes with her? His academic life, classes, appearing class in female clothes? His friends? Self-image, issue of gender, sexuality, his commitment to change?

7. Fred, in herself, her background, her family, her sister? Her work, television, the encounter with Laurence? Love for him, the relationship, normal over the years, the ups and downs? The issue of the abortion? The revelation about Laurence, dealing with it, the intimacy, the discussions? Laurence and his treatment of her? The break, gap, meeting again?
8. Laurence and his progress, the growing sense of his identity, continuing to adapt, appearance, hair and face, the make up, the clothes, going to class, interactions? His mother and her comments and criticisms? The distance from him?

9. Fred, having to cope, reactions?

10. The mother, the past, in herself, her distance, the meetings and the nature of the encounters?

11. The Rose family, meeting them, the variety of types, their behaviour, entertainment, behaviour, the influence?

12. The journalist, the book, the interrogation, the attitudes?

13. Think the film, immersing the audience in Laurence’s life, sharing it? The final acceptance of Laurence and his life?