In New Interview, Out Filmmaker Xavier Dolan Talks New Films, TV Show

In a recent interview with Vice, celebrated Quebecois filmmaker Xavier Dolan discusses the release of his latest film, the critically acclaimed "Matthias & Maxime," as well as future projects, including a TV series.

The film also marks the first time Dolan has appeared on camera in one of his own films in five years, having spent most of the last decade behind the camera with "Mommy" (2014), "It's Only the End of the World" (2016), and "The Death & Life of John F. Donovan" (2018). While the latter two seemed to confound critics and audiences, "Matthias & Maxime" has already been termed a return-to-form – always a dubious term that seems to prioritize audience expectations for how a brave filmmaker like Dolan should behave in cinema.

In the interview, Dolan elaborates on his new film's storyline of two good friends who interrogate the boundaries of their relationship after one kiss, and the implications of that brief moment of intimacy. He also explains his response to reviews:

"Attitude towards criticism is the work of a lifetime, it seems! I don't know that I'll ever excel at it. I make films with my heart and react to opinions about them with my heart as well. So I've been a brat about it, yes. It's been known to happen."

Dolan also briefly discusses upcoming projects, such as "a mini-series, a horror film set in the late 12800s and a social drama!" But ultimately, Dolan, is waiting out the pandemic and hoping for a return to some sense of normalcy. That said, he is concerned about the fate of cinema post-COVID-19:

"I think that our global habit of going to the movies has already been disrupted by the arrival of streaming – except, of course, for 'cinematic events' like Marvel movies, sequels or franchises. Looking around, and looking even at myself, I see our desire for togetherness has been waning consistently, and our proclivity to confined entertainment increasing. But now... if we don't even have a choice anymore... I'm afraid theatres will disappear. Or stay, but become the exclusive venue of major studio films -- with all indies and films in-between being relegated to online services. And that is sad. Because no one, deep down, shoots for iPads."

Read the interview with Dolan at Vice.