Montreal

Xavier Dolan's Mommy wins best foreign film at France's César Awards

After being snubbed by the Oscars, Quebec director Xavier Dolan's Mommy has won best foreign film at France's César Awards.

Film about a mother struggling with a violent teenage son has gained wide critical acclaim

Director Xavier Dolan's Mommy has been handed wide critical acclaim.

After being snubbed by the Oscars, Quebec director Xavier Dolan's Mommy has won best foreign film at France's César Awards.​

The film beat out heavyweights such as Richard Linklater's Boyhood and Wes Anderson's The Grand Budapest Hotel, which are both in the running for best picture at Sunday's Oscars, for the prize in Paris on Friday.

Mommy, which is set on Montreal's South Shore and tells the story of a mother struggling with a violent teenage son, has gained wide critical acclaim.

It was Dolan's fourth nomination for best foreign film at the César Awards.

Mommy was selected as Canada's bid for Oscar glory in the best foreign-language film category, but failed to make the short list in voting by the Academy.

His next film, The Death and Life of John F. Donovan, was co-written with Montreal actor-director Jacob Tierney (The Trotsky) and will be his first in English. Kit Harington (Game of Thrones) stars as an actor whose life is torn apart by a gossip columnist (Jessica Chastain).