Review: Montreal, My Beautiful

The bilingual French and Chinese language feature Montreal, My Beautiful (originally titled Montréal, ma belle) was written and directed by Chinese Canadian filmmaker Xiaodan He and shot in the city of Montreal. The film made its local debut at the Festival du nouveau cinéma last October before heading into Quebec theaters in February. Now, this tender, age gap lesbian romance is available on various Canadian streaming platforms, allowing for a much wider audience to discover its bittersweet story. Xiaodan He’s previous work has explored various aspects of the immigrant experience, and this film is her first to be shot in Montreal, which seems fitting as the movie presents a loving portrait of life in the city. The film stars veteran Chinese born actress Joan Chen who, despite portraying a 53 year old, is actually in her mid 60s. Her younger lesbian lover, Camille, is portrayed by local Québécoise actress Charlotte Aubin.

In Montreal, My Beautiful, Joan Chen delivers a touching, emotionally nuanced performance as lead character Feng Xia, a wife and mother whose life has been dictated by socio-cultural expectations based on strict rules of behavior and duty. Early on in the movie, it becomes blatantly obvious that throughout her life, Feng has had to sacrifice her own personal hopes and dreams in favor of the expectations and demands of others—in particular, her husband, Wang. Along with her spouse and their 2 children, Feng has relocated from China to Montreal in order for her husband to pursue his professional dreams. As the years have passed, however, Wang’s professional aspirations have been dashed, and instead of excelling in his white collar profession, the couple have settled into a life based around running a local dépanneur.

From the beginning of the film, it’s obvious that Feng lives a lonely, isolated, and self-described “simple” existence. She spends her time working in the store, doing domestic chores, raising her children, and coping with her husband’s lackluster employment search. Feng is most often depicted alone, struggling with the demands of learning French and dealing with the emotional and physical realities of being an older woman managing the onset of menopause.

The plot focuses on Feng’s later in life queer awakening and her personal journey to regain her voice and autonomy. She is a woman who has spent a lifetime following traditional expectations of being a “good” Chinese wife and mother, adhering to a strict social and cultural code which includes a heterosexual marriage and settling into her role as a supportive caretaker. Her only happiness seems to be when she attends a dance class and lets down her façade, if only for a brief period of time. 

Feng’s journey of self discovery begins after a doctor’s appointment where she discusses the physical and sexual issues associated with menopause. Faced with a deeply unsatisfying sex life, Feng opts to go on a dating app for queer women where she meets Camille, a 30 year old woman who works in a bakery. Camille, played by Charlotte Aubin, represents a stark contrast to Feng’s straight laced character. Camille is over 20 years younger than Feng, and her life experience stands in sharp contrast to that of the Chinese immigrant; most notably, Camille is open, carefree, and entirely comfortable with her sexuality.

The film makes it clear that Feng’s later in life sexual awakening doesn’t come out of the blue. Throughout the movie, viewers are given brief reflections of Feng’s youthful romance with another woman. Late in the film, Feng reveals to her lover that when she was 18, she fell deeply in love with a woman but the secret love affair didn’t last long as the couple were forced apart by repressive cultural expectations, tradition, and family demands.

Perhaps the most problematic element of Montreal, My Beautiful is the film’s abrupt, ambiguous, and unsatisfying ending, which leaves viewers with more unresolved questions than answers. Throughout the entire film, we witness Feng’s personal journey from a lonely, unhappy woman shackled by tradition and duty into a woman taking control of her life, breaking free, rediscovering her sexuality, and pursuing pleasure on her own terms. Without providing spoilers, the film’s last moments leave viewers questioning if all of Feng’s personal growth and efforts in search of authenticity and self determination have been for naught, or if she really has taken back her power over her body and her future. In the end, viewers are left to question whether Feng will revert back to old, familiar patterns and give away her power to her husband; following his lead like the dutiful yet deeply unfulfilled woman she was at the beginning, or choose to reject the shackles of the past and forge ahead with an authentic life true to herself.

Ultimately, Montreal, My Beautiful is a film held together by the immense chemistry and award-nominated performances of Joan Chen and Charlotte Aubin. While Xiaodan He crafts a visually stunning and emotionally resonant portrait of late life awakening and local Montreal life, the narrative’s sudden rush to the finish line prevents it from achieving true greatness. The movie remains a bittersweet, worthwhile watch for its tender representation, even if the final destination leaves something to be desired.