Close is a heart-breaking, emotionally-charged narrative across the technique of grief at a younger age, trying on the penalties of poisonous masculinity that tears a friendship aside in an irredeemable approach. Thirteen yr olds Leo and Remi are extremely shut from a younger age, however after they enter a brand new faculty yr, their relationship is questioned and Leo distances himself from his pal – solely to be pressured to reckon with the implications of that call when tragedy strikes. It’s a factor that occurs early on within the movie, laborious to get round with out spoiling – but it surely’s an enormous, earth-shattering second that feels so quietly understated and boils over to a deeply devastating scene and from then on, Close looks like a totally completely different film – switching up from a utopia right into a grief research and the fracturing of a relationship the second faculty begins and the 2 must abide by social normality.
Comparisons will be made to final yr’s Playground, The Quiet Girl and Petite Maman the yr earlier than the place the varsity playground was introduced as a warzone and Lukas Dhont creates the same vibe right here each within the ice-hockey coaching apply periods that take its toll on Leo because the movie progresses and the schoolyard, the place Leo and Remi are questioned constantly for being a bit too shut for his or her classmates liking. It doesn’t trouble Remi, however Leo is consistently unnerved by the comparisons – resoundly denying that the 2 are in a relationship regardless of being seen as nearer than any mates their age. The movie explores the implications of internalised homophobia and poisonous masculinity at a younger age and the strain of being seen as ‘normal’ and what that toll takes on the characters’ private lives – the pair cycle in to high school on the identical time each day, however there’s a heartbreaking second when Leo doesn’t look forward to Remi – and its repercussions are shattering.
The pair of younger actors – Eden Dambrine and Gustav de Waele, convey Dhont’s imaginative and prescient with full conviction – the chemistry wanted to make this factor works is essential and you purchase Leo’s course of within the second half of the movie fully due to how good Dambrine is. It’s a wholly melancholic imaginative and prescient of this movie – while the inciting incident comes as a shock attributable to how comparatively early it occurs – the remainder of the movie offers with it in a perfectly shifting approach, if fully acquainted – you’ll probably have seen the whole lot informed right here earlier than.
That doesn’t cease Close from completely tearing you in two, although. Emotionally manipulative motion pictures are often excellent at being emotionally manipulative and this one isn’t any completely different – it tugs away on the heartstrings. Whilst Dambrine’s efficiency could get all of the reward, and rightly so – I believe de Waele is superb right here, understated and capable of convey his affection with so clearly few phrases – the desperation in his voice at clinging onto a friendship that’s falling aside in a approach the place he has finished nothing fallacious broke me, and the movie doesn’t villainise Leo for making his actions however fairly presents the storyline fully from his perspective; you see his anger and guilt of his actions shine via. It’s a powerfully wealthy, advanced and uncooked efficiency that’s nuanced and considered one of excellence – and reveals that even regardless of supporting dad and mom, the affect of the friends in notion of affection and friendship can have a knock on impact that may tear it in two; making essentially the most out of its stunning utilization of claiming the whole lot by saying nothing, and the last word present not inform method simply fits a film like this completely.
Might simply be the movie that ought to’ve gained greatest worldwide image on the Oscars this yr – though it’s in excellent firm.