Laurence Anyways

French-Canadian wunderkind Xavier Dolan’s third feature is his most operatic, and not just for its running time. As in ‘I Killed My Mother’ and ‘Heartbeats’, the 23 year-old filmmaker forges a moving account of a relationship using dry humour, expressionistic flourishes, a bravura soundtrack and exquisitely queer design. But the scope is bigger, the timeframe longer, the emotions more consequential. The story traces the love shared by Laurence (Melvil Poupaud) and girlfriend Fred (Suzanne Clément) in the 1990s, which sort-of survives his realisation that he wants to become a woman. At nearly three hours, the film is certainly a bit long and, as with all Dolan’s films, those with a low tolerance for supercool Gallic sufferance might struggle. But Poupaud is great and Dolan delivers his trademark pleasures with assurance: complex mothers, New Romantic songs and unrelenting gorgeousness – not for Laurence the ugly-duckling phase experienced by many who transition from one gender to another…