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Matthias & Maxime (2020) movie poster

Plot Summary

Matthias & Maxime (2020) Plot Summary Explained

Release, runtime and language
2020 · 119 min · Canadian french
Echo score 53
JustWatch #3,574 17
Starring
Harris Dickinson, Pier-Luc Funk, Adib Alkhalidey, Alexandre Bourgeois, Anne Dorval, Antoine Pilon

Lifelong friends Matthias and Maxime find their close bond unexpectedly challenged when they're asked to share a kiss for a student film project. This seemingly minor request triggers a wave of uncertainty and self-reflection, forcing them to examine the complexities of their relationship and the dynamics within their social circle. As doubts and insecurities surface, they must confront uncomfortable truths about themselves and the nature of their connection, leading to a profound shift in their lives.

On this page (6)
  1. 1 Where to watch
  2. 2 What happens: full plot
  3. 3 Plot questions answered
  4. 4 Movie threads
  5. 5 Movies like Matthias & Maxime
  6. 6 Every angle

Where to watch

Where to Watch Matthias & Maxime (2020)

Where can you watch Matthias & Maxime? Stream, rent or buy it in the US, including on MUBI, Amazon Video and Apple TV Store: current JustWatch availability with up-to-date prices.

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Full plot summary · contains spoilers

What Happens in Matthias & Maxime: Full Plot Summary

The whole story of Matthias & Maxime (2020) explained, from the opening scene to the final frame: every key event, every twist and what it all adds up to. Read it as a quick recap before the sequel, to check a scene you missed, or to finally understand what really happened.

Matthias and Maxime, two lifelong friends in their late twenties, navigate the complexities of adult life in Montreal. Matthias, portrayed by Harris Dickinson, is a driven businessman preparing for a promotion, while his friend Maxime, played by Pier-Luc Funk, is a more laid-back bartender caring for his struggling alcoholic mother. As they face pivotal moments in their lives—particularly Maxime's upcoming move to Australia for work—they decide to take a weekend trip to the lakeside cabin of their affluent friend, Rivette (Alexandre Bourgeois).

Their retreat takes an unexpected turn when Rivette’s assertive sister, Érika (Camille Felton), a passionate film student, pressures them into acting in her student short film after her original cast drops out. Initially resistant, Maxime ultimately agrees to appear, and Matthias finds himself compelled to join as a result of a wager with Rivette. The nature of their roles requires them to share a kiss, sparking nostalgia as their friends remind them of a similar incident from high school, which Matthias chalked up to youthful indiscretion fueled by party drugs. Despite their hesitations, the kiss occurs off-screen, leading to unforeseen emotional consequences for both men.

The morning after, Matthias is deeply affected, struggling to find rest and retreating into the lake for solace. He inadvertently finds himself on the wrong side of the water, which parallels his internal turmoil as he grapples with his emotions. His relationship with his caring girlfriend Sarah (Marilyn Castonguay) becomes strained following his decision to decline his job promotion, further heightened by the unveiling of Érika’s short film during a gathering hosted by her mother. While Sarah attempts to comprehend Matthias's volatile feelings, Maxime is in a delicate phase too, exploring the future of his mother’s estate and seeking a letter of recommendation from Matthias’s successful father in Chicago.

Confusion reigns for Matthias and Maxime as they confront their complex feelings, particularly given their previous attractions to women. Matthias's denial about Maxime's imminent departure leads him to avoid attending Maxime's farewell bash, though Sarah insists on his presence. His late arrival stirs tension among their friends; an ill-timed speech and a confrontation during a party game exacerbate the situation, climaxing with him insulting Maxime's birthmark. Although he storms out in anger, he soon returns to apologize, yet the night culminates in another shared kiss with Maxime and a fleeting, intense encounter that leaves both of them emotionally frayed.

Following the party, Matthias accompanies a work colleague to a strip club, only to leave abruptly, running through the streets, reflecting his chaotic state of mind. Meanwhile, Maxime is engaged in packing up his childhood home, during which he stumbles upon a nostalgic drawing depicting a shared dream of farm life with Matthias, evoking strong emotions. A call from Matthias’s father's office reveals a letter of recommendation that was meant for Maxime but never forwarded, triggering an important realization for Maxime about Matthias's refusal to accept change. With newfound clarity, Maxime hastily resumes his preparations, ready to meet his friend before departing for Australia, only to find Matthias waiting for him, hinting at unresolved feelings and a bond that may stand the test of distance.

Last updated: February 13, 2025 at 10:13

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Plot questions answered

Matthias & Maxime Plot Explained: Your Questions Answered

The questions people ask most about Matthias & Maxime (2020): what happens in the confusing scenes, why the characters do what they do, the twists, hidden details and what the ending means. Each answer contains spoilers.

Q1

Why is Matthias so affected by the kiss with Maxime?

Matthias is deeply affected because the kiss awakens long-repressed feelings he's never acknowledged. While he previously dismissed a similar kiss in high school as being caused by party drugs, the reality of kissing Maxime as an adult forces him to confront feelings he's buried beneath his ambitious lifestyle and relationship with Sarah. This unexpected emotional response creates his inner turmoil throughout the film.

Foreshadowing: Earlier in the film, friends remind them of a similar kiss from high school, which Matthias had rationalized away as youthful indiscretion.

  • matthias
  • maxime
  • kiss
  • emotions
  • repressed feelings
Q2

Why does Matthias turn down his job promotion?

Matthias rejects the promotion because his emotional state has been destabilized by the kiss and his growing realization about his true feelings for Maxime. The promotion represents the life he's been building, the ambitious, controlled path, but it no longer feels authentic to who he is. His decision reflects his internal crisis and inability to continue pursuing a future that doesn't align with his actual desires.

Foreshadowing: The promotion is mentioned early as Matthias's primary focus, making his sudden rejection more impactful as a sign of his transformation.

  • matthias
  • promotion
  • job
  • decision
  • emotional crisis
Q3

What is the childhood drawing that Maxime finds?

The drawing depicts Maxime and Matthias as farmers living together on a farm, a shared childhood dream they once imagined. Finding this drawing while packing up his childhood home triggers Maxime's nostalgia and reminds him of the pure, uncomplicated bond they shared as children. It represents their lost innocence and the depth of connection he's about to leave behind.

Foreshadowing: This moment connects to earlier scenes showing their lifelong friendship and the carefree nature of their youth.

  • maxime
  • drawing
  • childhood
  • farm
  • memories
  • nostalgia
Q4

Why does Matthias insult Maxime's birthmark during the party game?

Matthias insults Maxime's birthmark because he's overwhelmed by emotional turmoil and incapable of processing his feelings constructively. His denial about Maxime's departure and his own suppressed emotions manifest as aggression. The insult represents his self-destructive behavior when unable to confront what he truly feels, his fear of losing Maxime and his confusion about his own identity.

Foreshadowing: Earlier scenes show Matthias struggling to accept Maxime's upcoming move to Australia, setting up his emotional breakdown.

  • matthias
  • maxime
  • birthmark
  • party
  • insult
  • emotional breakdown
Q5

What is happening with Maxime's mother?

Maxime's mother is struggling with alcoholism, which is why he has been caring for her throughout the film. As he prepares to move to Australia, Maxime makes the difficult decision to transfer her care to his aunt, representing his transition into adulthood and the painful choices he must make about his future.

Foreshadowing: Maxime's role as caretaker is established early in the film, showing his responsible nature before his departure becomes imminent.

  • maxime
  • mother
  • alcoholism
  • care
  • aunt
  • moving
Q6

What does Matthias waiting at the airport signify at the end?

Matthias waiting at the airport signifies his ultimate acceptance of Maxime's departure and his willingness to confront their relationship honestly. Rather than continuing to deny his feelings or avoid the painful reality of Maxime leaving, he chooses to face it directly. The ending suggests their bond may survive the distance, leaving their relationship's future ambiguous but hopeful.

Foreshadowing: This moment contrasts sharply with Matthias's earlier denial and refusal to attend Maxime's farewell party, showing his emotional growth.

  • matthias
  • maxime
  • airport
  • ending
  • farewell
  • hope
Q7

Why was the letter of recommendation never forwarded to Maxime?

The letter of recommendation from Matthias's father was never forwarded because Matthias, consciously or unconsciously, didn't want Maxime to leave. This act symbolizes Matthias's refusal to accept change and his deeper denial about his feelings. When Maxime discovers the letter wasn't delivered, he gains clarity about his friend's resistance to his departure and takes matters into his own hands.

Foreshadowing: This explains Matthias's strange behavior throughout the film, his denial wasn't just about the kiss, but about losing Maxime entirely.

  • letter
  • recommendation
  • maxime
  • matthias father
  • miscommunication
Q8

Why does Maxime agree to do the kissing scene in the film?

Maxime agrees to participate in the student film primarily because he wants to help Érika, but his willingness also hints at his own unexamined feelings about Matthias. While Matthias is coerced through a bet, Maxime's agreement seems more voluntary, suggesting a deeper comfort or curiosity about the situation that reflects his own suppressed emotions.

Foreshadowing: Maxime's easier agreement foreshadows his later willingness to explore his feelings, contrasted with Matthias's more conflicted reaction.

  • maxime
  • erika
  • film
  • kiss
  • student project
Q9

Why does Matthias go to the strip club and then leave abruptly?

Matthias goes to the strip club seeking an escape from his emotional turmoil, attempting to return to a normal life. However, he leaves abruptly because the experience doesn't provide the distraction he needs, he can't escape his feelings for Maxime. His running through the streets afterward symbolizes his inability to run away from his problems.

Foreshadowing: This scene follows his intimate encounter with Maxime where he pulls away, showing his pattern of fleeing from emotional confrontation.

  • matthias
  • strip club
  • escape
  • emotions
  • running
Q10

What was the high school kiss that Matthias mentions?

The high school kiss refers to a similar incident between Matthias and Maxime during their teenage years, which their friends reference when they're asked to kiss for Érika's film. At the time, Matthias dismissed it as youthful indiscretion influenced by party drugs, using this rationalization to avoid examining what the kiss might have meant emotionally.

Foreshadowing: This past event establishes that their feelings for each other aren't entirely new, providing context for why the present-day kiss affects them so deeply.

  • high school
  • kiss
  • past
  • drugs
  • memory

Movie threads

More Movies Like Matthias & Maxime, by Mood & Story

Curated lists built around what makes Matthias & Maxime tick: the same mood, the same kind of story or the same emotional payoff. Each list explains why these movies belong together.

Movies with a relationship-shifting moment like in Matthias & Maxime

A single, charged event forces characters to confront hidden truths and feelings. If you liked the way a simple kiss challenged everything in Matthias & Maxime, you'll appreciate these movies. This list features similar stories where a single, intimate event acts as a catalyst, forcing characters to confront unspoken desires and fundamentally alter their relationships.

  • tense
  • introspective
  • romantic
  • conflicted
  • unsettling
  • emotional
  • Tone: bittersweet, tense, introspective
  • Pacing: steady, deliberate
Why these movies?

The story pattern: These narratives are built around a catalyst moment that disrupts the status quo. The story then follows the emotional fallout as characters grapple with denial, confusion, and eventual acceptance or rejection of the new reality, leading to a significant transformation in their dynamic.

Why they belong together: These films are grouped by their shared narrative structure: a quiet, character-driven build-up to a moment of profound emotional rupture, followed by a deliberate exploration of the consequences. They share a focus on internal conflict and the subtle, painful process of personal awakening.

Movies about bittersweet farewells and unresolved feelings like Matthias & Maxime

Stories where impending goodbyes bring suppressed emotions to the surface. Fans of the melancholic parting and emotional uncertainty in Matthias & Maxime will find similar resonance here. These movies explore the complex feelings that arise when a looming separation forces characters to deal with unfinished business and unexpressed love.

  • melancholic
  • nostalgic
  • bittersweet
  • farewell
  • unresolved
  • hopeful
  • Tone: bittersweet, melancholic, nostalgic
  • Pacing: steady, contemplative
Why these movies?

The story pattern: The narrative is defined by a deadline: a character's departure. This deadline creates pressure, accelerating emotional confrontations that would otherwise remain buried. The journey is less about preventing the farewell and more about how the characters choose to face it and what they leave unsaid or acknowledged.

Why they belong together: They share a core emotional dynamic: the ache of a pending goodbye mixed with the tension of unresolved romantic or personal feelings. The pacing is often steady, allowing the weight of the situation to sink in, and the endings are typically bittersweet, acknowledging loss while hinting at future possibilities.

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Every angle

Matthias & Maxime (2020) Explained: Plot, Timeline & Characters

Everything about Matthias & Maxime in one place: what happens in the plot summary, the timeline in chronological order, the characters and meaning and a spoiler-free summary. What's After the Movie adds the cast, box office and post-credit scenes.

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