I found this movie because of a gif on Twitter. Spent way too long scrolling through the comments to find out what it was from, and the second I did, it went straight on my watchlist.
Matthias & Maxime is a 2019 Canadian drama written, directed, edited by, and starring Xavier Dolan. It follows two childhood best friends in their late twenties, Matthias (Gabriel D'Almeida Freitas) and Maxime (Dolan), whose whole dynamic shifts after they're asked to kiss for a student short film. That's it. That's the inciting incident. One kiss they didn't think much about, and suddenly everything feels different and neither of them knows what to do with that. It's quiet, it's intimate, and it's set in Quebec, shot mostly in French. Very much a Xavier Dolan film in all the best ways.
The Experience
The Highlights:
- The leads are incredible together. Freitas and Dolan have this lived-in, effortless chemistry that makes you believe every second of their friendship. The tension between them doesn't feel performed, it just simmers, and that's what makes it land so hard.
- The cinematography is gorgeous. André Turpin shoots this thing with so much care. Lingering close-ups, quiet moments that breathe, no scene overstaying its welcome visually. It looks beautiful without being flashy about it.
- Dolan pulls back and it works. If you know his earlier stuff, you know he loves big emotions and bold style. This is a much quieter version of that, and it actually suits the story perfectly. The restraint hits harder than the theatrics would have.
- It doesn't spell anything out for you. The film trusts you to sit in the discomfort and figure it out alongside the characters. If you like stories that respect your intelligence, this one's for you.
Fair Warnings:
- It's a slow burn and it knows it. At 119 minutes, the pacing is deliberate. There are stretches in the middle that drag, and a few scenes that could have been cut without losing anything. You have to be in the right headspace for this one.
- The group scenes can feel aimless. A lot of the film lives within a wider friend group, and some of those scenes meander before getting anywhere interesting. If the ensemble doesn't grab you early, those parts will test you.
- This is not a love story with a neat ending. If you want a clear romantic arc and a satisfying resolution, you're going to leave disappointed. It's more about internal reckoning than any kind of payoff. Go in knowing that.
Final Verdict
If you're into slow, character-driven films that let things simmer, this is worth your time. The performances and the emotional honesty carry it even through the slower patches. Just don't go in expecting a traditional love story, because that's not what this is.
Have you seen Matthias & Maxime?
Drop your thoughts in the comments. Whether it wrecked you or left you cold, I want to know.
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