Canadian director Xavier Dolan has been one of the world's most exciting filmmakers in recent years. The world is coming around to that point of view.
Dolan (second from right) shared the Jury Prize at the Cannes Film Festival for his latest film Mommy along with Jean-Luc Godard's newest film Goodbye To Language. The Jury Prize ranks only behind the Palme D'Or and Grand Prix at Cannes.
"I am lost in gratitude thinking of the recognition of the jury, the love we have felt over the last week, which has made me realize that we do this job to love and be loved in return," said Dolan.
Mommy is a black comedy about a mother and son relationship involved ADHD and a deep love between them.
Mommy is Dolan's 5th film; his debut was with I Killed My Mother followed by Heartbeats; Laurence Anyways; and Tom at the Farm.
Dolan's debut film was shown at Cannes in 2009 and reportedly earned an 8-minute standing ovation at the festival and won 3 awards in the Director's Fortnight Program. Laurence Anyways also was shown at Cannes.
Dolan is the 3rd Canadian director to win the Jury Prize. David Cronenberg won for Crash (1996) and Denys Arcand took the prize for Jesus of Montreal (1989). Nice company.
The latest Cronenberg film, Maps to the Stars, earned an acting award as Julianne Moore won the best actress award.
Atom Egoyan's kidnap drama film The Captive did not fare nearly as well, reportedly being booed at the screening. The film stars fellow Canadian Ryan Reynolds.
Egoyan is the only Canadian director to win the Grand Prix, winning for The Sweet Hereafter in 1997. No Canadian film has ever won the Palme d'Or.
The next stop on the film tour is the 2014 Toronto International Film Festival September 4–14.
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