Why you can trust 12DOVE
A move you might imagine Pedro Almodóvar making in his early days, Xavier Dolan’s third feature is a Montreal melodrama with its heart on its sleeve.
A decade-long saga beginning in the late ’80s, its title character (Melvil Poupaud) is a transsexual male having an affair with Frederique (Suzanne Clément), who struggles with the idea that her man wants to be a woman.
Dolan never flinches across this bold, brassy piece; it’s confidently directed, stylishly shot, passionately acted and evocatively scored.
And it’s got the best ’80s hairstyles since The Wedding Singer .
James Mottram is a freelance film journalist, author of books that dive deep into films like Die Hard and Tenet, and a regular guest on the Total Film podcast. You'll find his writings on 12DOVE and Total Film, and in newspapers and magazines from across the world like The Times, The Independent, The i, Metro, The National, Marie Claire, and MindFood.

A new Batman #1 from Matt Fraction and Jorge Jiménez launches this September with a "revamped aesthetic," a throwback costume, and a new Batmobile

Marvel reveals its full slate of May 2025 comics and covers featuring the Avengers, the X-Men, Spider-Man, and more

Former Witcher 3 lead says his new vampire RPG Blood of Dawnwalker has a smaller open world because "it feels more like you actually know the place" compared to "behemoths"