Laurence Anyways DVD box set, 2012

Laurence Anyways in 2012 is a highly unconventional romance and the quirk of the story.

We follow Laurence Alia (Melvil Poupaud) and Fred Belair (Suzanne Clément), a happy couple whose relationship takes a turn after Laurence announces his wish to become a woman. While he faces problems with his decision from work and family, Fred struggles under the pressure of other’s opinions, and confusion over her own desires in life. Their relationship eventually falls apart, but their unresolved issues and lingering love for each other sends them on a tumultuous journey that spans a decade.

Over the ten year period that unravels through Dolan’s expansive narrative (the run time clocks in at a hefty, yet involving 161 minutes), Laurence and Fred drift in and out of one another’s lives and encounter many issues, from prejudice (a scene in which Fred stands up to a nosey waitress in a small-town café is among the film’s best) to new relationships and sorrowful isolation. It’s a time period that allows for such cumbrous issues to be probed in thorough fashion, as Laurence’s mindset contradicts with those on the outside. Over the decade, the love between Fred and Laurence continues to haunt them and it is only a matter of time before they meet again.

As you would expect from Dolan, Laurence Anyways DVD box set is art directed up the wazoo. He mixes up contemporary and retro music video tableau with youthful vigour and energy. The club scenes are a hot mess of shocking pinks and neon blues. And in a couple of explicit 80s homages, he really does give great euro-ponce.  It will be fantastically irritating if you aren’t attuned to the sensibility. If you are, various scenes will leave you swooning with delight.