2010 Jutras (Quebec Oscars): Dolan’s I Killed My Mother Edges out Villeneuve’s Polytechnique

Xavier Dolan’s I Killed My Mother edged out Denis Villeneuve’s Polytechnique, claiming the top prize and collecting a total of five trophies, beating Villeneuve’s film by one. Since Cannes last May, both films have been pitted against each other: while Villeneuve’s film had the edge on the Quebecois box office front and received acclaim at Canada’s Oscars (Genies), it was the debut film from Dolan that overwhelmed audiences on a global level, winning at several film festivals including three in Cannes (here is where it all began). The little indie that could also won for Best Actress.

Oddly, both films remind me of Gus Van Sant’s work – Dolan’s style is certainly influenced Van Sant, while Polytechnique is similar in narrative discourse to Elephant.
I Killed My Mother will be released stateside sometime this year, and oddly, both filmmakers might find themselves in Cannes once again this year, Villeneuve will seek out a competition slot for Incendies – aiming for the Main Comp or Un Certain Regard, while Dolan would most likely return to the scene of the crime with Les Amours imaginaires. Here is Dolan accepting the award for Best Screenplay. Here is the complete list of winners. 

Best film: J’ai tué ma mère

Best director: Denis Villeneuve for Polytechnique

Best actress: Anne Dorval for J’ai tué ma mère

Best actor: Sébastien Ricard for Dédé à travers les brumes

Best supporting actress: Sandrine Bisson for 1981

Best supporting actor: Maxim Gaudette for Polytechnique

Best animated film: Robe de guerre by Michèle Cournoyer

Best short film: Danse Macabre
Best documentary film: Last Train Home
Best screenplay: Xavier Dolan for J’ai tué ma mère

Best cinematography: Pierre Gill for Polytechnique

Best music: Dédé à travers les brumes
Best costumes: Judy Jonker for Dédé à travers les brumes

Best editing: Richard Comeau for Polytechnique

Art direction: David Pelletier for Dédé à travers les brumes

Best sound: Pierre Blain, Claude Beaugrand, Stephane Bergeron for Polytechnique

Best makeup: Colleen Quinton for Cadavres

Best hairdressing: Linda Gordon for 1981

Most successful film outside Quebec: J’ai tué ma mère
Le billet d’or (for box office performance) presented, as expected, to De père en flic