"Silence is the brink upon which adulthood begins": Xavier Dolan's Transition in 'Matthias & Maxime'

When Xavier Dolan, at a tender age of 19, shocked the cinema world with 'I Killed My Mother' in 2009, he became synonymous with youthful, passionate, and deeply conscious filmmaking. We're taking a nostalgic trip back to the time when his eighth feature, 'Matthias & Maxime', witnessed him navigating from the throbbing heart of youth to sifting through its reminiscences.

"Silence is the brink upon which adulthood begins": The Transition

Set against the backdrop of playful 20-something men engaging in competitive word games, jokes, and partying in a tranquil lakeside home, 'Matthias & Maxime' begins to feel like a horror film, where adulthood menacingly creeps in around the edges. As Marguerite Duras rightly puts it, "Silence is the brink upon which adulthood begins", Dolan uses the film to explore the precipice of adulthood, where friendships require effort, and 'frustration' becomes synonymous with adulting.

"How do you renegotiate intimacy years down the road?": A Deep Dive

The crux of the film revolves around Maxime, played by Dolan himself, and Matthias, Gabriel D’Almeida Freitas, who once shared an intimate encounter during high school. The on-screen kiss for a short film sets the emotional gears into motion, forcing them to confront their feelings years after their youthful escapade. The question that haunts their story is, "How do you renegotiate intimacy years down the road?"

While the two central characters are often kept apart, the film thrives on the subtle tension of Maxime's impending move to Australia and the changes it brings to their relationship dynamics. A sprinkling of powerful supporting performances, intricate narrative techniques, and the director's distinct sensibility amplifies the emotional journey Dolan embarks on in 'Matthias & Maxime.'

Despite dealing with substantial themes of adulthood and intimacy, Dolan's signature sense of humor and candid critique of societal norms permeate the film. With a beautifully rendered emotional landscape, 'Matthias & Maxime' serves as a milestone in Dolan's cinematic journey, marking the inevitable transition from youth to the memory of it.

Disclaimer:Several parts of the text in this article, including the title, were generated with the help of an AI tool.