THE DEATH AND LIFE OF JOHN F. DONOVAN.

Canada/UK, 122 minutes, Colour.
Kit Harrington, Natalie Portman, Jacob Tremblay, Susan Sarandon, Kathy Bates, Ben Schnetzer, Thandie Newton, Jared Keeso, Chris Zulka, Amara Karan, Emily Hampshire, Michael Gambon, Sarah Gadon.
Directed by Xavier Dolan.

By the time Xavier Dolan directed this film, he had directed 10 films, beginning at the age of 19 with How I Killed My Mother, which he wrote, directed and starred in. He has appeared in most of his films – and taken some US acting roles, Boy Erased, It Chapter 2. He is French- Canadian. And his films explore constant themes, the personality of the director, his relationship to his mother, his homosexual orientation. And this is the case here – though the film moves to broader themes.

Filmed in English, the film has a very strong international cast. Kit Harrington (Game of Thrones) plays a rather morose character, troubles in childhood with medication and therapist, a dominant mother (played by Susan Sarandon who has a raucous sequence as well as a more calm responsive sequence), but who makes it big on a television series, a hero with powers, possibilities of further roles. However, with his sexual orientation, his very private, a childhood friend, Amy (Emily Hampshire) accompanying him to all functions. He becomes infatuated with the young actor and seeks advice from his brother. His agent is played by a forceful Kathy Bates.

The film is actually framed by a press interview with Thandie Newton meeting with young author, Rupert Turner (Ben Schnetzer) who has published a book of correspondence between himself and the actor.

Interspersed with this interview are the flashbacks, to John F Donovan’s life as well as to the important story of Rupert as an 11-year-old, precocious, bullied at school, corresponding with the actor for five years. And then seeing the news on television of his death. The young Rupert is played by the fine young actor, Jacob Tremblay (who appeared with Brie Larson in Room and with Julia Roberts in Wonder). Here Natalie Portman please his mother from whom he becomes more and more alienated.

(Towards into the film, there is a very brief sequence, but quite telling, Michael Gambon appearing as an old caretaker who, for some minutes, become something of a father figure, a wisdom figure.)

While the film explores the sad life of John Donovan, it also explores the strange childhood of Rupert Turner.

1. A film by Xavier Dolan, writing and directing, his precocious career in directing, acting, producing, costume design…?

2. The title, expectations, the focus on death?

3. The structure of the film: the young Rupert, his mother, the diner, the television news? Moving to the present, Audrey and her work as journalist, on the phone, interrupting her flight, not having read the book, encountering Rupert, the bad start, the discussion, clash, her work and background in Africa, the tape recorder, Rupert telling the story, the insertion of the flashbacks? The interaction between the two, becoming more friendly? The end of the interview, the embrace, on the motorbike with his boyfriend? The portrait of Rupert at 21, in the light of the flashbacks and audience knowledge of him as a boy?

4. The film as Rupert’s story, that writing to John, John’s replies? Over a period of five years? Writing when he was little? The question about whether the letters were really written? Their being visualised? Or in Rupert’s mind and storytelling? Rupert and his father leaving, his reaction? Living with his mother, antagonism towards his mother? The happy sequences at home, returning from school, watching the television series, his shouting, her delight? The increasing clashes? Moving from the US to England? His going to school, his being bullied, Cedric and his nastiness, even in class? The teacher, her concern about Rupert, driving him home, his mother’s reaction? The story in class, Cedric shouting it down, the teacher not thinking it was true, Rupert’s declaration, looking in his bag, the letters missing, his pursuing Cedric, going to his house, arrested, at the police station, the reaction of the police, his mother coming to get him?

5. The development of John Donovan’s story, as perceived by Rupert from the letters, as told by the screenwriter? Seeing him in the television series, the hero character, the powers? Seen with Amy, the fans? Seeing with Barbara, her shielding him, the interviews? The possibility of film roles? Auditions, with Liz and going through the script, the actor challenging him, the angry fight, charges, settled? The possibilities for his career? The final discussion with Barbara, her straightforward advice about living his life with authenticity?

6. John and his home background, the revelation about health, medication, moods, psychiatrists? The visit to his mother? Her coming on loudly, drinking, challenging? The various aunts and relations, the mood of the meal, his mother’s cooking, something special for John, leading to arguments and a clash?

7. John, the visits to Jim, confiding, advice, the bond between them? At home? And on his final visit to his mother?

8. John, sexual orientation, the private life, Amy and the friendship from childhood, her accompanying him? His secrecy? The attraction to Will, the photo, showing Jim? But not answering the phone? The later encounters, visiting Will at his apartment, his family there, Will taking a stand for his own life? The consequences for John?

9. John, the celebrity, the television interviews? The revelation about the letters? His dismissing them on television?

10. The consequences for Rupert, not being hurt, his mother’s reaction? Rupert and the possibility for auditions? His mother and her auditions? Their clashes? Going back to the US for auditions? The television news of John’s death?

11. John’s final visit to his mother, wanting to go, staying, the bath, Jim present, the memories of spelling? Then the news of his death?

12. Speculation about John’s death, the initial sequence of the woman knocking at the door, going in, the smell? The question whether John killed himself? Accidental death?

13. And the effect on Rupert, publishing the letters, becoming an actor, becoming something of a celebrity, and the effect of the interview?