Quebecois auteur Xavier Dolan has become one of the most preeminent voices in new queer cinema thanks to his bracingly honest themes and subject matters, and the writer-director kept up this spirit in an open letter published to Twitter yesterday revealing a recent snafu with Netflix UK. According to Dolan’s post, Netflix UK has edited out the aspect ratio changes in his well-received drama “Mommy,” despite the fact that the aspect ratio plays a vital role in visually expressing the protagonist’s psychological journey.
Dolan presented a majority of “Mommy” in a square 1:1 ratio, opting to expand the frame to a more full 1.85:1 at pivotal moments to reflect the main character’s expanding happiness and to tease possible bright futures. Because Netflix UK eschewed these aesthetic choices, Dolan took to the social media platform to lash out at their decision.
“Who has bestowed on you the right to revise my choices,” he wrote, “and how competently have you pondered the impact of such decisions on my film and the public?” Visit Indiewire for more on the story, including a chance to read the letter in its entirety.
Below are more of the top stories making the rounds today.
Caitlyn Jenner Supports ‘Tangerine’s’ Oscar Campaign for Mya Taylor
“Caitlyn Jenner showed her support for Magnolia’s ‘Tangerine’ and star Mya Taylor in the first-ever Oscar campaign for trans actresses. The Olympic gold medalist hosted a special screening Monday at the Landmark in Los Angeles. She credited her publicist Alan Nierob with presuading her to support ‘Tangerine.’ The Magnolia Pictures event included a post-screening reception with Jenner, Taylor, executive producers Mark and Jay Duplass and director Sean Baker, who was named one of Variety’s 10 Directors to Watch last year.” – Dave McNary, Variety
‘The Ellen DeGeneres Show’ Renewed Through 2019-2020 Season
“‘The Ellen DeGeneres Show’ has received another early renewal. Following a strong fall performance, the popular daytime syndicated talk show, previously picked up by the NBC Owned Television Stations through the 2016-2017 season, has been extended through summer 2020 (2019-2020 season) in a deal with distributor Warner Bros. Domestic Television Distribution.” – Nellie Andreeva, Deadline
5 Best Gay Films of 2015
“This year seemed to be a boon in LGBT cinema. Changing tides in society, thanks to several big-time public officials and celebrities coming out these past years have led to greater acceptance and increased visibility. We’ve got lead characters on network TV played by gay individuals, and more and more LGBT characters hitting mainstream movies and TV series.” – Adam Groffman, Huffington Post
When LGBT Film Looked in the Mirror This Year, So Did I
“Cinema is one of the things I love most in the world. It’s the thing I’ve made it my profession to write about and the art form of expression I’ve always looked at to better understand people. Just as I was in the midst of exploring who I was, film started to relate fragments of my experience. For once I didn’t feel like an outsider, but more a part of what was happening on screen, even if just slightly.” – Erin Whitney, Screen Crush
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