Matthias & Maxime

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.