Laurence Anyway: When Xavier Dolan turned down an award
During the 2012 Cannes Film Festival, Lorenzo Anywaythird feature film by Xavier Dolan, is screened in the Un certain Regard section. The film is praised for its visual and emotional richness, as well as the touching performances of Melvil Poupaud and Suzanne Clément. But when he received the Queer Palm, an award that honors films that address LGBTQ+ themes, Dolan refused to accept it.
In a statement that caused quite a stir, the director explained: “That such prices exist disgusts me. » For him, the Queer Palm, although driven by laudable intentions, contributes to marginalizing works that deal with LGBTQ+ issues by isolating them in a specific category. He believes that this award, instead of integrating these themes into universal cinema, stigmatizes them by confining them to a “separate” space.
This position reflects Dolan’s vision: cinema should not distinguish stories based on the identities or sexual orientations they represent. He believes that his films – and other works that address these topics – deserve to be judged solely on their artistic and narrative qualities, just like any other production.
Lorenzo Anyway : a universal masterpiece
Xavier Dolan’s ambition to transcend labels is echoed in the very theme of Lorenzo Anyway. The film tells the story of Laurence Alia (Melvil Poupaud), a professor who reveals to his partner Fred (Suzanne Clément) his desire to become a woman. This story explores with rare intensity the upheavals this announcement causes in their relationship, as well as the discrimination and oppressive views of society.
Beyond the LGBTQ+ theme, the film addresses universal issues: the search for identity, love in the face of adversity and the difficulty of being yourself in an often normative world. Thanks to an extravagant staging and dialogues of rare depth, Dolan offers a work that is as personal as it is universal.
Lorenzo Anyway she also received other awards at Cannes, including the Best Actress Award in the Un certain Regard section, awarded to Suzanne Clément. The latter offers an unforgettable performance, embodying a woman torn between the love she feels for Laurence and the sacrifices that this relationship requires.
Xavier Dolan’s rejection of the Queer Palm, however, sparked debate. While some welcomed the ambition to normalize LGBTQ+ stories in cinema, others felt that this type of distinction remains essential to give visibility to issues that are still underrepresented.
Source: Cine Serie
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