By 
TOM AT THE FARM ***
Canadian filmmaker Xavier Dolan is only 26 years-old but he’s done work enough so far, confirming he is one of the greatest genius of his generation. He is also notoriously peculiar with his sense of humor and unique cinematic language; his most valuable characteristic, predominant throughout his films is the aesthetic of memories about family conflicts or dysfunctional relationships between mothers and sons. Dolan is as sensitive with the material he chooses as he is smart when narrating his drama with aspects of modern behavior which immediately identifies with contemporary issues. In this psychological thriller, Dolan seems to be exercising the parallels between two of his films, “Laurence Anyways” which deals with identity, and “Mommy”, a scary look on a tumultuous mother-son relationship.
An aerial shot follows the protagonist, played by Dolan himself, as he arrives at a remote farm announcing he needs a replacement to fulfill the emptiness in his heart caused by the sudden loss of his boyfriend. He meets the deceased’s only two family members, the mother and the aggressive brother (brilliantly played by handsome Pierre-Yves Cardinal), and finds himself stranded in a violent game of hidden secrets, lies, sexual tension and torture. He’s forced to lie about his relationship with the young dead, creating an imaginary “girlfriend” to help the mourning mother accept the facts. But as he increasingly renders up to play the game imposed by the brother, he is also experiencing transformations, becoming committed to his early role in the family. As he arrives at the farm in need of healing to his heart, he is pressured by the saddened circumstances to help the family cope with their loss. Dolan, once again invites us to explore family matters, connections, misshapes and the urgent need for understanding. He also demonstrates perfect coordination with the grizzly stylish noir-like cinematography of dazzling shots into the mysterious woods and intriguing editing, capturing glimpses of Tom’s memories, his fear and panic. Suspenseful and unpredictable, the young director confirms the importance of his talent with this gripping psychological thriller. (Opens Friday, August 14th at Village East Cinemas in NYC and other cities)
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