What Is Matthias & Maxime About?
The premise of Matthias & Maxime in 285 words, with nothing given away. The full story follows below.
In the vibrant, slightly chill streets of Montreal, Matthias and Maxime have spent their entire lives navigating the world side by side. Matthias is the driven, meticulous businessman whose ambition is matched only by his devotion to his steady girlfriend, Sarah. Across the hallway of his world, Maxime moves at a gentler pace, tending bar while caring for his troubled mother, a quiet strength that often goes unnoticed. Their friendship, forged in the halls of a shared high‑school and strengthened by countless nights in the city’s cafés, feels as solid and familiar as the neighborhoods they call home.
The pair’s routine is jolted when they accept a request from a close friend’s sister, Érika, a film student desperate for actors in her short project. The casual‑looking assignment quickly becomes more complicated when the script calls for the two men to share an on‑screen kiss—a memory resurfacing from a fleeting, drug‑blurred moment in their past. The simple act of reenacting that intimacy awakens dormant questions about desire, identity, and loyalty, forcing both men to confront feelings they have long kept at bay.
Set against the backdrop of a close‑knit social circle that includes the wealthy host Rivette and their other friends, the story balances a warm, understated humor with an undercurrent of emotional tension. The tone is intimate and reflective, inviting the audience to linger over the subtle shifts in body language, the charged silences, and the unspoken doubts that ripple through everyday conversations. As the friends gather for a weekend getaway and the camera rolls, the simple premise of a kiss becomes a mirror, reflecting the fragile yet resilient ties that bind Matthias and Maxime together, and hinting at the quiet transformations that lie ahead.
What Happens in Matthias & Maxime?
The complete story of Matthias & Maxime, from the first scene to the last, in 835 words (about 4 minutes). Spoilers throughout. Names in the text link to 1 cast member page.
Spoilers ahead
Matthias and Maxime are lifelong friends in their late twenties living in Montreal, each carrying a different rhythm in life. Matthias is driven and ambitious, a successful businessman with a caring girlfriend named Sarah, while the quieter, gentler Maxime works behind a bar and spends long hours caring for his abusive, alcoholic mother. Matthias seems destined for a big promotion at work, and Maxime is quietly preparing to move to Australia for new opportunities. Their contrasting paths set the stage for a weekend that will blur the lines between friendship, desire, and the fear of what they might become if they let themselves truly listen to what their hearts are telling them.
When Rivette invites them to his lakeside cabin, the atmosphere shifts as his pushy sister, Érika, a film student, pressures them to star in her student short film after her two actors drop out. What begins as a lighthearted favor quickly reveals a deeper current running beneath their lives. Maxime capitulates and agrees to participate, and Matthias is later forced to join after losing a bet to Rivette. The news that their scenes will require a kiss catches them off guard, but their old history—years earlier in high school, or so the party legends claim—adds a charged undercurrent to the moment. They end up sharing a kiss, offscreen, which unsettles them in ways they did not expect and unsettles those around them as the film asks what such a moment could mean for two men whose identities have long been tethered to different social scripts.
That kiss becomes a turning point. Matthias cannot sleep the following morning, takes a swim in the lake and seems to drift between confidence and doubt, while Maxime begins to feel the weight of the moment in a more private way. Matthias also starts to question his choices at home: he declines a promotion and argues with Sarah, and the discovery that Erika has completed her film intensifies his sense of upheaval. Sarah seems to understand the conflict that has erupted inside Matthias, even as their relationship shifts in the wake of the kiss. The two men hold a growing tension that is easy to miss in the bustle of family obligations and future plans, but it quietly reshapes how they see themselves and each other.
As the weekend unfolds, the two return to their everyday lives with new questions. Maxime hands over the care of his mother’s estate to his aunt and seeks a letter of recommendation from Matthias’ father, a successful Chicago businessman, hoping to smooth the road ahead. The long-gestating questions about desire, loyalty, and identity only deepen as Maxime worries about leaving behind the life he knows, and Matthias confronts the ache of a love that seems to threaten the future he has built. The two men are simultaneously pulled toward different futures and pulled back toward each other by a moment they cannot quite erase, a moment that has already altered the course of their days and their nights.
The party at Maxime’s social circle becomes a crucible. Matthias arrives late, gives a halting speech for Maxime, and initially refuses to join an afterparty, only to be encouraged by Sarah to stay. A heated moment during a party game leads to a fresh tear-down of the old boundaries, with Matthias insulting Maxime’s facial birthmark and then storming out before returning to apologize. The night culminates in a fleeting, tender moment: a kiss and a brief sexual encounter between them that leaves Maxime hopeful yet hurt, and Matthias unsettled, as if the old certainties could shatter at any moment.
In the days that follow, Matthias finds himself wasting time at a strip club with a business associate, while Maxime begins cleaning his house in preparation for the move. He uncovers a childhood drawing of himself and Matthias living on a farm together, a poignant reminder of a simpler past that somehow feels more true than the present. A phone call finally delivers a crucial piece of the puzzle: the letter of recommendation was not lost in transit but had actually been sent to Matthias, who failed to forward it to his father. The truth lands with a quiet heaviness, helping Maxime see that Matthias has been in denial about what he truly wants and where his loyalties lie. He forwards the letter to his own email and prepares to leave for the airport, only to discover that Matthias is waiting for him, not far from the doorway, ready to face the uncertainty together.
What follows is not a flashy resolution but a tempered, patient reckoning. The two men stand at a crossroads where love, friendship, duty, and the fear of change collide, and they choose to walk toward one another rather than away. The film leaves them on the cusp of a new chapter, where their relationship—and the lives around them—will be transformed by honesty, vulnerability, and the choice to say yes to what they truly want, even if the road ahead remains uncertain.
Matthias & Maxime Timeline: Every Key Event in Order
13 key events in the order they happen, from “Montreal life setup and divergent paths” to “Final reunion at the threshold of departure”. 13 events name a place, across 13 locations.
- 1
Montreal life setup and divergent paths
Matthias and Maxime are lifelong friends navigating different paths in Montreal. Matthias is driven and on the verge of a promotion, while his girlfriend Sarah stands by him, and Maxime works as a bartender who cares for his abusive mother and plans to move to Australia. Their contrasting lives set up the emotional stakes that drive the story.
Where:Montreal, Canada
- 2
Trip to Rivette's lakeside cabin and film offer
During a lakeside retreat at Rivette's cabin, Erika pressures them to star in her student film after her actors drop out. Maxime capitulates and agrees to participate, and Matthias joins after losing a bet, despite lingering discomfort about the kiss the scene will require. The revelation that the scene includes a kiss rekindles a memory of a high school kiss they once shared.
Where:Lakeside cabin, near Montreal
- 3
The kiss and its fallout
The kiss tests Matthias' composure, leaving him unable to sleep the following morning. He goes for a swim and accidentally ends up on the wrong side of the lake, a misstep that mirrors his internal confusion. He later turns down a job promotion and argues with Sarah, unsettled by what the kiss means for their relationship.
When:Morning after the kiss Where:Lakeside cabin and lake
- 4
Erika's film screening stirs tension
Erika screens the completed short film at a get-together, catching Matthias off guard. Sarah seems to understand the conflicted feelings the kiss has stirred, while Matthias struggles to articulate them.
Where:Get-together at Erika's mother's house
- 5
Estate planning and the letter of recommendation
Maxime hands over the care of his mother's estate to his aunt and begins planning his move. He seeks a letter of recommendation from Matthias' father, who is based in Chicago, hoping to boost his opportunities. The effort underscores how their shared past continues to shape their present choices.
Where:Montreal (family matters) / Chicago (father's base)
- 6
Confusion about attraction and identity
The kiss creates confusion about their attractions, pushing both men to question their assumptions about themselves and their relationships. Matthias remains especially unsettled due to his commitment to Sarah. They both feel a pull toward a reality they had long assumed was impossible.
Where:Montreal
- 7
Matthias postpones, then attends Maxime's party
Back in Montreal, Matthias tries to skip Maxime's party, denying that his feelings are shifting and that he might leave for Australia. Sarah pushes him to attend, and he arrives late and gives a poor speech. He initially declines the afterparty invitation, but Sarah convinces him to stay.
Where:Maxime's party, Montreal
- 8
Afterparty confrontation and apology
At the afterparty, a party game triggers a confrontation in which Matthias insults Maxime's facial birthmark. He storms out in anger, then returns to apologize, showing the fragility of their friendship under stress.
Where:Afterparty setting, Montreal
- 9
A charged moment and consequences
After the night ends, Matthias and Maxime share a kiss and a brief sexual encounter, but Matthias pulls away, leaving Maxime hurt and confused. The moment deepens the emotional distance between them and unsettles their friendship.
Where:Afterparty location, Montreal
- 10
Matthias drifts away to the night scene
Later, Matthias goes to a strip club with a business associate before abruptly leaving to run through the streets in a daze. The outing underscores his unsettled state and inability to find a stable path forward.
Where:Strip club, Montreal
Show the other 3 events of Matthias & Maxime Hide the last 3 events
- 11
Maxime reflects at home and memory surfaces
Maxime cleans out his house in preparation for moving and discovers a childhood drawing of himself and Matthias living on a farm together, a memory that softens him. The image reminds him of the depth of their friendship and what they once shared.
Where:Maxime's home, Montreal
- 12
The letter finally finds its way to Maxime
Maxime finally receives a call back from Matthias' father's office; the secretary explains the letter was sent to Matthias, who never forwarded it on. Realizing Matthias' denial, Maxime forwards the letter to his own email and sees a possible path forward.
Where:Chicago/Matthias' father's office area
- 13
Final reunion at the threshold of departure
Ready to leave, Maxime departs his home to catch a ride to the airport, and is happy to find Matthias waiting for him as well, signaling a possible reconciliation. The moment closes the film on a note of ambiguous hope and renewed connection between the two friends.
Where:Maxime's home to airport, Montreal
Who Are the Main Characters in Matthias & Maxime?
5 characters, among them Matthias (Gabriel D'Almeida Freitas), Maxime (Xavier Dolan) and Érika Rivette (Camille Felton): who each one is and the part they play in the story. Every profile links to the actor’s page.
- M(
Matthias (Gabriel D'Almeida Freitas)
Played by Gabriel D'Almeida Freitas
Motivated yet uptight businessman who is dating Sarah; his promotion hangs in the balance. The kiss with Maxime unsettles his sense of identity and future, revealing deeper attraction he has long suppressed. He is anxious, introspective, and protective of his carefully maintained life as he grapples with what he truly wants.
- 🎭 Drama
- 💼 Ambition
- 💔 Relationship
-
Maxime (Xavier Dolan)
Played by Xavier Dolan
Quiet, gentler bartender who cares for his abusive mother and plans to move to Australia for work. He forms a complicated emotional bond with Matthias after the kiss, balancing friendship with new romantic possibilities. He is introspective and open to change, yet remains conflicted about his future.
- 💧 Family
- 🫂 Friendship
- 💘 Romance
- ÉR
Érika Rivette (Camille Felton)
Played by Camille Felton
Pushy film student who pressures the two friends to star in her short film. She uses the project to probe identity and relationships, often pushing others beyond their comfort zone for art. Her fixation on the film creates tension within the group while pursuing her own ambitions.
- 🎬 Artist
- 🎭 Drama
- 📚 Student
- R(
Rivette (Pier-Luc Funk)
Played by Pier-Luc Funk
Wealthy host of the lakeside cabin who orchestrates the film project and social dynamics. He provides the setting and pushes the friends into provocative situations for entertainment. His motives stay largely in the background as the drama unfolds around him.
- 💼 Wealth
- 🏷️ Social Status
- 🎭 Friend group
- S(
Sarah (Marilyn Castonguay)
Played by Marilyn Castonguay
Matthias's caring girlfriend who tries to understand his conflict and support him. She remains loyal but must navigate the strain of his emotional uncertainty. Her presence anchors the relationship and contrasts with Matthias's internal turmoil.
- 💑 Relationship
- 🤝 Support
- 🧭 Loyalty
Where and When Is Matthias & Maxime Set?
Matthias & Maxime is set in Montreal, Quebec and Rivette's lakeside cabin (Late 2010s). Here is why the time and place matter to the story.
When
Late 2010s
Set in contemporary Montreal, the story unfolds through urban scenes and a lakeside retreat. It centers on two twenty-something friends navigating career pressures, romantic uncertainty, and a sudden shift in their relationship. The timeframe aligns with modern attitudes toward sexuality, friendship, and responsibility.
Where
Montreal, Quebec; Rivette's lakeside cabin
Montreal serves as the urban backdrop for Matthias and Maxime's lives. The lakeside cabin owned by the wealthy Rivette provides a secluded retreat that accelerates emotional tension. The setting blends city life with a quiet countryside escape, highlighting contrasts between public performance and private longing.
- 🏙️ Montreal
- 🇨🇦 Canada
- 🛶 Lakeside cabin
What Are the Themes of Matthias & Maxime?
3 ideas the story keeps returning to, among them Love & Identity, Friendship & Denial and Art as Catalyst.
-
01
Love & Identity
Two lifelong friends share a kiss that unsettles their understanding of themselves and each other. The moment exposes repressed desires and questions about what they want from love and life. The film examines how friendship can be upended by evolving sexual identities. It asks whether love should redefine commitment or preserve the status quo.
-
02
Friendship & Denial
Matthias and Maxime confront denial as they try to maintain their long-standing bond. The kiss reveals unspoken feelings, challenging their loyalty and plans for the future. The narrative explores the fragility of friendship when personal truth clashes with expectations. It shows vulnerability behind a confident exterior.
-
03
Art as Catalyst
Erika's short film acts as a megaphone for hidden truths, forcing the characters to confront their emotions. The line between on-screen performance and real life becomes blurred as the kiss leaks into everyday interactions. The project intensifies social and personal scrutiny, accelerating the emotional reckoning. The film demonstrates how art can expose and intensify intimate realities.
What Kind of Film Is Matthias & Maxime?
Melancholic in tone, with slow pacing and a moderate story, going by the plot summary.
- Tone
- Melancholic
- Pacing
- Slow
- Story
- Moderate
- Intensity
- Medium
- Ending
- Happy
A quietly intense and melancholic drama that slowly charts the emotional unraveling of two lifelong friends after a single kiss forces them to confront their repressed desires against a backdrop of impending change.
- melancholic
- quiet
- contemplative
- tender
- anxious
- nostalgic
- friends to lovers
- self-discovery
- sexual identity
- friendship
Content notes: domestic abuse, alcoholism, emotional abuse.
Quiz
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Where to Watch Matthias & Maxime
Stream it on MUBI, or rent or buy it from Amazon Video and Apple TV Store. US availability and prices from JustWatch.
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