Xavier Dolan's It's Only the End of the World explores imperfect family relations

Xavier Dolan'slatest film,It's Only the End of the World, is hittingCanadian cinemas after havingdefied the critics to capture a top prizeat Cannes.

At the French film fest,the 27-year-oldQuebec wunderkindearned negative reviews for his sixth film, a tale of a terminally ill writer( Gaspard Ulliel) who travels hometo share the news with his estranged family.

Known in French asJuste lafin dumonde, the dramais based on a play of the same name by the late French playwright Jean-Luc Lagarceand features a star-studded cast of French actors, including La Seydoux, Vincent Cassel, Nathalie Baye and Marion Cotillard.

The film nonetheless captured the prestigious Grand Prix in Cannes, as well as a prize from the festival's Ecumenical Jury. It's Only the End of the World also screened at the Toronto International Film Festival earlier this month and was tapped as Canada's official foreign-language Oscar pick.

In the video above, co-starsBayeandSeydouxdiscuss working with Dolan, whoexplains why he favours stories about imperfect people and dysfunctionalfamilies.

It's Only the End of the World, whichopened at cinemas in Quebec and France this week, hits Toronto theatres Friday, with a wider Canadian release to come.