Buckle up! Another lesbian age-gap romance just dropped.
Described by director Xiaodan He as "a love letter to Montreal," Montreal, My Beautiful (Montréal, Ma Belle) truly earns its title as the movie takes us on a tender, painful, and deeply human journey through one fleeting summer in Montreal.
At the center of the story is Feng Xia (Joan Chen), a Chinese immigrant rebuilding her life in a new country, and who is forming an unexpected connection with Camille (Charlotte Aubin), a young Québécoise woman whose presence feels as vibrant and alive as the city itself. Chen delivers a beautiful performance, perfectly embodying sadness and regret. Every glance carries history, and every silence is poignant and meaningful. And Aubin brings authenticity to Camille—her acting feels so natural and easy that it seems like we are seeing true emotions, not just a performance. You can feel the undeniable chemistry both of them have through the screen.
But this film is not just about a love story; it is also a story of immigration, sacrifice, and the long road to a new beginning, and it captures exactly what it feels like to leave everything you love behind in an attempt to rebuild from nothing. Even though my story isn't exactly the same as Feng Xia's, the feeling of frustration and uprootedness in a new place is precisely the same.
The director pays attention to every detail, portraying Montreal with intimacy and authenticity. The city doesn’t only feel like a backdrop to the story, it feels like a living, breathing character in itself. A city that holds love, heartbreak, and second chances all at once. A true love letter to our beloved city.
With its tender storytelling, the undeniable chemistry between its two leads, and beautiful summer atmosphere, Montreal, My Beautiful, deserves to become a true lesbian classic. The kind of film we return to again and again, finding new meaning in every rewatch. It will for sure stay in my mind for a long time.
Montreal, My Beautiful is now playing in select theatres in Quebec, in Toronto, and in Vancouver.
Photo: Filmoption International
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