In his second feature film "Heartbeats" ("Les Amours Imaginaires"), Xavier Dolan (I Killed My Mother) captures the nature of obsession in a campy, lush canvas filled with retro and uber-contemporary clothes, perfect hair and bon mots (a French-Canadian version of Valley Girl-speak).
Best friends, Marie (Monia Chokri) and Francis (Xavier Dolan) meet Nicolas (Niels Schneider) at a party and they are both immediately smitten. When they spot him across the room, Marie ask Xavier, "Who is that Adonis?"
Marie and Xavier are young urbanites: über-chic, pseudo-intellectual and unabashedly cool. Nicolas is the embodiment of classical male beauty: sculptured features, perfect curls and boyish allure. As the three begin to spend more time together, Marie's and Xavier's infatuation with Nicolas grows, and the seeds of competition bloom. But Nicolas seems unfazed and unattached to any particular outcome, he just having good time, doing what strikes him in the moment. Marie and Xavier struggle with and for the love of their beloved, but his indifference tears them apart.
In "Heartbeats" the main characters are utterly taken with themselves and the superficial. While the superficial seems to be a foundation for a new moral system of values, the complexities of love challenges their inexperienced hearts. But Marie and Xavier ultimately recognize imaginary love for what it is and realize that they are inexplicably and inarticulably linked.
The close ups, slow motion and playful use of color creates a highly stylized piece. Add flirtation and insinuation to the mix and you have a sexy film that will certainly resonate with some. English speakers of French will find the French-Canadian idioms especially charming. Others however may find the film dull and tedious, not because "Heartbeat" is without spirit, but because it takes too long to reach a foregone conclusion. Needless today, this is a film that you will either love or hate. But Dolan's ability to capture youthful emotion, wrap it up in western archetypes and a contemporary aesthetic shows a depth beyond his years and makes him a director to watch. "Heartbeats" premiered in Un Certain Regard at the 2010 Cannes Film Festival and was the recipient of the Youth Prize. http://www.lesamoursimaginaires.com/
Cast: Monia Chokri (Marie), Niels Schneider (Nicolas), Xavier Dolan (Francis), full cast and crew.
US Release Date: 25 February 2010. Written and directed by Xavier Dolan; IFC Films. Running time: 95 minutes; MPAA Rated NR; genre: Drama/Romance.
Opening on March 18, 2011 at Landmark’s Lumiere Theatre in San Francisco, and Landmark’s Shattuck Cinemas in Berkeley. Also scheduled to open at Camera Cinemas in San Jose (March 25 or April 1 tbd.)
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