Xavier Dolan’s ‘Mommy’ Officially Enters Oscar Race, Report

Xavier Dolan’s film Mommy will represent Canada in a bid for a best foreign language film Oscar, it was announced Friday in Montreal.

The film, which shared the Special Jury Prize at Cannes earlier this year, follows the relationship between a troubled teenager (Antoine-Olivier Pilon) and his mother (Anne Dorval), a widow, who struggles to cope with her son’s volotile mood swings, and a shy neighbor who takes an interest in them.

“When you are aiming high you take risks to achieve things,” commented a thrilled Dolan at a media conference held in Montreal. “If we can make it all the way to the Oscars, it’s my honor and duty to give everything and all my energy to this campaign.”

This summer Roadside Attractions acquired U.S. rights, and at the time said it would release the film in 2015.

The 25-year-old Dolan’s previous features include “I Killed My Mother,” “Heartbeats,” and “Laurence Anyways.”

In the past five years, films from Canada have received four nominations in the foreign-language category. They include Denis Villeneuve’s “Incendies,” Agnieszka Holland’s “In Darkness,” Philippe Falardeau’s “Monsieur Lazhar,” and Kim Nguyen’s “Rebelle.”

Agencies/Canadajournal