Mommy
Forty-six year old Diane Després - "Die" - has been widowed for three years. Considered white trash by many, Die does whatever she needs, including strutting her body in front of male employers who will look, to make an honest living. That bread-winning ability is affected when she makes the decision to remove her only offspring, fifteen year old Steve Després, from her previously imposed institutionalization, one step below juvenile detention. She institutionalized him shortly following her husband's death due to Steve's attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) and his violent outbursts. He was just kicked out of the latest in a long line of facilities for setting fire to the cafeteria, in turn injuring another boy. She made this decision to deinstitutionalize him as she didn't like the alternative, sending him into more restrictive juvenile detention from which he would probably never be rehabilitated. However, with this deinstitutionalization, she has to take care of him which means only being able to do home based work. Despite they always yelling expletives at each other and Steve sometimes demonstrating those violent tendencies toward her, Die and Steve truly do love each other, his emotions which are sometimes manifested as an Oedipus complex especially as he seems to need her complete attention most specifically when it is being directed at possible male suitors. Their lives, both individually and as a family, are affected with the entrance of two of their neighbors. The first is Paul, a lawyer, who does have that sexual interest in Die as he tries to help Steve through his legal problems. The second and more important is Kyla, who lives across the street with her husband Patrick and their adolescent daughter, they who are in transit in their life to wherever Patrick's job will take them. Kyla is a high school teacher on sabbatical as she deals with her own emotional issues, which are manifested in stuttering whenever she feels incapable of dealing with her life. Kyla may find that she needs the Després as much as they need her.
The film struggled financially against its modest budget of $4.9M, earning $3.5M globally (-29% loss). While initial box office returns were modest, the film has gained appreciation for its bold vision within the drama genre.
Plot Structure
Story beats plotted across runtime
Narrative Arc
Emotional journey through the story's key moments
Story Circle
Blueprint 15-beat structure
Arcplot Score Breakdown
Weighted: Precision (70%) + Arc (15%) + Theme (15%)
Mommy (2014) demonstrates precise narrative architecture, characteristic of Xavier Dolan's storytelling approach. This structural analysis examines how the film's 15-point plot structure maps to proven narrative frameworks across 2 hours and 18 minutes. With an Arcplot score of 7.1, the film balances conventional beats with creative variation.
Structural Analysis
The Status Quo at 2 minutes (1% through the runtime) establishes Die and Kyla drive to pick up Steve from the youth detention center. The chaotic energy and tension between mother and ADHD son is immediately established, showing their volatile but loving relationship in Die's beat-up car.. The analysis reveals that this early placement immediately immerses viewers in the story world.
The inciting incident occurs at 16 minutes when Die receives notice that Steve caused a fire at the detention center, leaving her liable for damages she cannot afford. The lawsuit threatens their already precarious existence and Die realizes she cannot handle Steve alone.. At 12% through the film, this Disruption aligns precisely with traditional story structure. This beat shifts the emotional landscape, launching the protagonist into the central conflict.
The First Threshold at 35 minutes marks the transition into Act II, occurring at 25% of the runtime. This indicates the protagonist's commitment to Kyla, the mysterious neighbor across the street who stutters, tentatively enters their lives and offers to help tutor Steve. Die accepts this lifeline. The three form an unlikely family unit, entering a new world of possibility., moving from reaction to action.
At 69 minutes, the Midpoint arrives at 50% of the runtime—precisely centered, creating perfect narrative symmetry. Structural examination shows that this crucial beat At the peak of their happiness, the three go shopping and have fun together. Steve seems genuinely stable. Die dreams of a normal future for her son. This is a false victory - things seem perfect but the underlying issues remain unresolved., fundamentally raising what's at risk. The emotional intensity shifts, dividing the narrative into clear before-and-after phases.
The Collapse moment at 104 minutes (75% through) represents the emotional nadir. Here, Steve violently attacks Kyla during an episode, choking her. This is the whiff of death - both literal danger to Kyla and the death of their dream of a normal family. Kyla flees back to her own life, and Die realizes she's lost the only help she had., shows the protagonist at their lowest point. This beat's placement in the final quarter sets up the climactic reversal.
The Second Threshold at 110 minutes initiates the final act resolution at 79% of the runtime. Die makes the devastating decision to invoke the S-14 law and institutionalize Steve. She realizes that loving him means letting him go to a place that can actually help him, even though it means losing him and admitting failure as a mother., demonstrating the transformation achieved throughout the journey.
Emotional Journey
Mommy's emotional architecture traces a deliberate progression across 15 carefully calibrated beats.
Narrative Framework
This structural analysis employs systematic plot point analysis that identifies crucial turning points. By mapping Mommy against these established plot points, we can identify how Xavier Dolan utilizes or subverts traditional narrative conventions. The plot point approach reveals not only adherence to structural principles but also creative choices that distinguish Mommy within the drama genre.
Xavier Dolan's Structural Approach
Among the 2 Xavier Dolan films analyzed on Arcplot, the average structural score is 7.1, reflecting strong command of classical structure. Mommy exemplifies the director's characteristic narrative technique. For comparative analysis, explore the complete Xavier Dolan filmography.
Comparative Analysis
Additional drama films include Eye for an Eye, South Pacific and Kiss of the Spider Woman. For more Xavier Dolan analyses, see It's Only the End of the World.
Plot Points by Act
Act I
SetupStatus Quo
Die and Kyla drive to pick up Steve from the youth detention center. The chaotic energy and tension between mother and ADHD son is immediately established, showing their volatile but loving relationship in Die's beat-up car.
Theme
Die tells Steve about the fictional S-14 law allowing parents to relinquish troubled children without judicial process. The theme of impossible maternal sacrifice and society's abandonment of struggling families is stated.
Worldbuilding
Die brings Steve home to their modest house. We see Steve's violent outbursts, Die's financial struggles, her work as a widowed single mother, and the intensity of their codependent relationship. Steve sets a fire at the facility he came from.
Disruption
Die receives notice that Steve caused a fire at the detention center, leaving her liable for damages she cannot afford. The lawsuit threatens their already precarious existence and Die realizes she cannot handle Steve alone.
Resistance
Die struggles to manage Steve's violent episodes while dealing with the lawsuit. She tries various approaches - discipline, affection, negotiation - nothing works consistently. Steve's behavior cycles between loving and explosive.
Act II
ConfrontationFirst Threshold
Kyla, the mysterious neighbor across the street who stutters, tentatively enters their lives and offers to help tutor Steve. Die accepts this lifeline. The three form an unlikely family unit, entering a new world of possibility.
Mirror World
Kyla begins working with Steve on his studies. She represents the stable, educated, calm presence Die cannot provide. Their relationship becomes the thematic mirror - showing that love requires both acceptance and boundaries.
Premise
The makeshift family flourishes. Kyla helps Steve with schoolwork, Die bonds with Kyla, they share meals and karaoke nights. Steve shows improvement. The famous scene where Steve uses his hands to widen the aspect ratio represents their expanding hope and freedom.
Midpoint
At the peak of their happiness, the three go shopping and have fun together. Steve seems genuinely stable. Die dreams of a normal future for her son. This is a false victory - things seem perfect but the underlying issues remain unresolved.
Opposition
Steve's condition deteriorates. His violent outbursts return with increasing intensity. He attacks Die, hurting her badly. Kyla tries to help but becomes a target. The financial pressure mounts. Steve's episodes become dangerous and unpredictable.
Collapse
Steve violently attacks Kyla during an episode, choking her. This is the whiff of death - both literal danger to Kyla and the death of their dream of a normal family. Kyla flees back to her own life, and Die realizes she's lost the only help she had.
Crisis
Die sits with Steve in the darkness of their home. She contemplates the S-14 law and what it would mean to give up her son. Steve is remorseful but both know his condition is beyond their control. The weight of impossible love crushes them.
Act III
ResolutionSecond Threshold
Die makes the devastating decision to invoke the S-14 law and institutionalize Steve. She realizes that loving him means letting him go to a place that can actually help him, even though it means losing him and admitting failure as a mother.
Synthesis
Die prepares Steve for the transfer. They share final moments together - a car ride, music, memories. Steve has a fantasy sequence of a perfect future that will never happen. Die delivers him to the hospital facility and signs the papers.
Transformation
Die drives away from the facility alone. The aspect ratio contracts back to the narrow 1:1 frame. She is without Steve, crushed by grief but having made the only choice that might save him. Love sometimes means unbearable sacrifice.