X
- 2023
- PG-13
- A24
- 1 h 44 m
- 2023
- PG-13
- A24
- 1 h 44 m
Summary The intense friendship between two thirteen-year old boys, Léo and Rémi, suddenly gets disrupted. Struggling to understand what has happened, Léo approaches Sophie, Rémi's mother.
Directed By: Lukas Dhont
Written By: Angelo Tijssens, Lukas Dhont
- 2023
- PG-13
- A24
- 1 h 44 m
- 2023
- PG-13
- A24
- 1 h 44 m
Close
7.9
Where to Watch
Summary The intense friendship between two thirteen-year old boys, Léo and Rémi, suddenly gets disrupted. Struggling to understand what has happened, Léo approaches Sophie, Rémi's mother.
Directed By: Lukas Dhont
Written By: Angelo Tijssens, Lukas Dhont
Where to Watch
Top Cast
Metascore
Universal Acclaim
Based on 34 Critic Reviews
81
91% Positive
31 Reviews
31 Reviews
9% Mixed
3 Reviews
3 Reviews
0% Negative
0 Reviews
0 Reviews
Metascore
Universal Acclaim
Based on 34 Critic Reviews
81
91% Positive
31 Reviews
31 Reviews
9% Mixed
3 Reviews
3 Reviews
0% Negative
0 Reviews
0 Reviews
The powerful current Palme d’Or favourite features terrific performances from youthful leads Eden Dambrine and Gustav De Waele, claustrophobic cinematography from Frank van den Eeden, weepie-worthy orchestrations from Valentin Hadjadj, and meaningful musings on how we hide behind small-talk, and internalise pain and gender norms.
Close is a great film about friendship, but perhaps an even greater one about being alone.
User Score
Generally Favorable
Based on 37 User Ratings
7.9
89% Positive
33 Ratings
33 Ratings
3% Mixed
1 Rating
1 Rating
8% Negative
3 Ratings
3 Ratings
User Score
Generally Favorable
Based on 37 User Ratings
7.9
89% Positive
33 Ratings
33 Ratings
3% Mixed
1 Rating
1 Rating
8% Negative
3 Ratings
3 Ratings
A drama that in other hands would have been just another one of the bunch, becomes one that the viewer feels involved and absorbed in, thanks to the magnetism of its characters and because it avoids the typical and worn-out clichés. You couldn't ask for more.
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Grâce à sa formidable maîtrise des silences et des regards, la beauté de ses cadrages et la lumière de ses jeunes interprètes novices, Eden Dambrine et Gustav de Waele, Close est d'abord et avant tout un immense mélodrame qui sert le cœur et fait rejaillir, par petites touches, ces instants cruciaux qui ont façonné l’existence de chacun d’entre nous. Juste magique
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Close is a story about growing up and losing those wondrous childhood relationships forever, but it's far more than that. It's a tender glimpse of loss on an unimaginable scale, told through the lens of a young boy trying to make sense of it all.
For me, Close gets to the heart of something I know all too well: bone-deep loneliness, grief, sadness and desperation that is hard to articulate, much less as a young child. To show this so masterfully, and without an ounce of judgement, make Close a small wonder.
It’s a quiet tragedy that’s rendered close to uplifting by its gentle grace and compassion.
Embracing Close will depend on how willing you are to forgive the filmmaker for overriding some nuances he’s established, compared to the insightful things he’s able to say when not aiming to emotionally provoke us.
I am convinced that Dhont has a masterpiece in him. But there’s an immaturity to his movies that he must first overcome. He’s already so close
Fun, gritty indie revenge/war flick. Great acting and some really fun scenes. Also injects a good dose of comedy to balance out the dark dramatic scenes. Never heard of this director or some of the actors but I’d like to see what they do in future projects. I like to see directors who excel in storytelling on a low budget.
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No, that's not what the film is about. I myself thought Lukas Dhont would veer into this theme (and I wouldn't have been upset by it), given his previous work, his desire to explore self-identity, and the poster and title, but it turned out otherwise, though still in the direction of self reflection. It is a beautiful film about the value of friendship, the importance of understanding and showing your emotions, about betrayal and pain, which you will definitely feel while watching it.
A beautiful, very tactile, sensual and sincerely lived experience with a keenly relevant message.
The West still raises in movies the problem of prejudice against boys, how they "should" behave, what to love, how to be friends and (not) express feelings. Imagine what happens in other countries, where the social culture is more closed and much more categorical in its judgments?
I, unfortunately, know it firsthand: to be different = to be a target, and not only for others, but also for yourself. At best, you will spend your whole life cleaning up childhood traumas. At worst... Check out "Close."
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Two 13-year-old boys are best, best friends; smiling, affectionate and completely comfortable with each other. When **** is bandied about at school, their relationship becomes strained. And worse. This is some interaction among family members and friends, but the major focus is the 2 young actors (Eden Dambrine, Gustav De Waele), who beautifully capture the joy and pain that this drama requires. It's sensitively directed by Lukas Dhont, who based the story on his own experience at school. This is a sweet, touching look at guilt, prejudice and affection. Interestingly, it's never determined whether either or both of them was ****. (In French with subtitiles)
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A film that I wanted to like more than I did. While its intentions are noble and its heart in the right place, it at its core is an emotionally forced and formulaic story and comes off as mawkish at best with its story and themes, despite highly impressive performances from newcomers Eden Dambrine and Gustav De Waele. Overall, tender acting performances from all involved and some admittedly lush cinematography can't quite make up for all the forced sentiment. It simply feels like stuff I've seen time and again in other similarly-themed films.
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[SPOILER ALERT: This review contains spoilers.]
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Production Company
Menuet bvba,
Diaphana Films,
Topkapi Films,
Versus Production,
Vlaamse Televisie Maatschappij (VTM),
Radio Télévision Belge Francophone (RTBF),
Canal+,
Ciné+,
Vlaams Audiovisueel Fonds,
Eurimages,
Nederlands Filmfonds,
Netherlands Film Production Incentive,
Centre du Cinéma et de l'Audiovisuel de la Fédération Wallonie-Bruxelles,
Sacem,
Tax Shelter du Gouvernement Fédéral Belge,
Casa Kafka Pictures
Release Date Jan 27, 2023
Duration 1 h 44 m
Rating PG-13
Genres
Website
https://www.closethefilm.be/
Awards
Golden Globes, USA
• 1 Nomination
Academy Awards, USA
• 1 Nomination
Film Festival Oostende
• 7 Wins & 14 Nominations
