Les amours imaginaires

The young, multitalented Xavier Dolan (director, scriptwriter and actor) has been deemed very promising since his debut I Killed My Mother. With this sequel, he confirms his reputation. While his raw, semi-autobiographical debut was occasionally vicious, in this romantic comedy Dolan reveals a milder side of his character.
Marie and her best friend Francis (played by the director himself) both fall for the young god Nicolas. However, they categorically deny to each other that they have any feelings for him whatsoever. In the meantime, they secretly sabotage each other’s chances.
In a cheerful way, Dolan portrays the long-suffering love of twenty-somethings, accompanied by an eclectic soundtrack. Using colour filters and slow motion, he exaggerates the skirmishes so much that they become laughable. Less over the top, but just as funny are the intermezzos with short interviews in which friends of Francis and Marie chat about their love lives.