Heartbeats
Directed by Xavier Dolan
- drama
- romance
The story
Francis is a young gay man, Marie is a young straight woman and the two of them are best friends -- until the day the gorgeous Nicolas walks into a Montreal coffee shop. The two friends, instantly and equally infatuated, compete for Nicolas' indeterminate affections, a conflict that climaxes when the trio visit the vacation home of Nicolas' mother. The frothy comedy unfolds through narrative, fantasy sequences and confessional monologues.
What it’s like
Slow-motion glances across crowded Montreal rooms, saturated lemon-yellow and tangerine interiors, and a steady stream of retro pop ballads that turn a café flirtation into something operatic. The look is stylized and candy-bright, with tight, carefully composed frames and direct-to-camera confessions that break the surface with blunt, funny honesty. Its vibe is giddy and bittersweet, a frothy sort of heartache, and it suits a restless Saturday, a stylish late-night watch, or anyone craving a film that treats longing as theatre. The pacing is brisk and playful, sliding between dreamy fantasy sequences and sharp, awkward realism, and the emotional register stays light while the three leads grow more exposed and less sure of what they want. Sexual content is frank but not explicit, with some talk and implied intimacy, and the cruelty is social and emotional rather than physical; there is no violence. It is aimed at viewers who enjoy queer romance, love triangles told with wit and mannerism, and a playful, self-aware approach to desire.
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