I Killed My Mother
Seen it?2009 | 100 min | Drama
Sunday Safe BetWhy it’s a Sunday Safe Bet
It earned strong reviews (87% on Rotten Tomatoes), though it had soft box office and little lasting buzz. A safe bet when you want something reliable.
Based on critics, audiences, awards, box office and buzz. Details below.Is it for you?
- Who'll love it
- Made for anyone who loves a strong drama. If you loved Boyhood or The Fabelmans, start here. Critics rate it higher than audiences do, so it rewards patience more than it chases thrills.
- The mood
- Thoughtful and character-driven.
- The pace
- Takes its time with its characters, at 1 hr 40 min.
- What might put you off
- It's in French, so expect subtitles (or a dub).
Hubert, a brash 17-year-old, is confused and torn by a love-hate relationship with his mother that consumes him more and more each day. After distressing ordeals and tragic episodes, Hubert will find his mother on the banks of Saint Lawrence river, where he grew up, and where a murder will be committed: the murder of childhood.
How it earned its rating
- CriticsStrong
87% on Rotten Tomatoes, 77 on Metacritic
- AudiencesSolid
7.4 out of 10
- AwardsSolid
Won 3 Cannes awards: Cannes Film Festival: C.I.C.A.E. Award, Cannes Film Festival: Prix Regards Jeune, Cannes Film Festival: SACD Prize (Directors' Fortnight). Plus 14 other awards.
- Box office & staying powerBelow par
$800K worldwide; still draws a steady audience long after release
- Buzz & cultural impactBelow par
About 70K people sought it out in the past year
Trailer
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Cast & crew
Directed by Xavier Dolan
- Anne DorvalChantale Lemming
- Xavier DolanHubert Minel
- François ArnaudAntonin Rimbaud
- Suzanne ClémentJulie Cloutier
- Patricia TulasneHélène Rimbaud
- Niels SchneiderEric
- Monique SpazianiDenise
- Pierre ChagnonRichard Minel
- Justin CaronYoung Hubert
- Benoît GouinBoarding School Principal