It's Only the End of the World

This pressure-cooker domestic drama from French-Canadian prodigy Xavier Dolan (Mommy) sees a terminally ill writer (Gaspard Ulliel) reunite with a family he hasn't seen for 12 years. On arrival he is greeted by a flamboyant, fussing mother (Nathalie Baye) and a sulky younger sister (Léa Seydoux) who has been idolising him from afar, while his jealous older brother (Vincent Cassel) is joined by a timid but perceptive wife (Marion Cotillard). The film transcends its theatrical origins with the magnification of Dolan's approach, as each agonising encounter plays out in confrontational close-up. Meanwhile, the superior supporting cast and operatic stylings add razzmatazz to familiar grievances. However, Dolan's sixth feature lacks the humour and poignancy of previous efforts, and Ulliel's brooding enigma is a frustrating focus, with the more intriguing depictions of human frailty being those surrounding him. The relationships are painfully credible yet the repetitive, constantly thwarted attempts at honesty grow tiresome; and, although the film teeters promisingly on the brink of hysteria, proceedings rarely explode into full-on fireworks.