Winner of the Grand Prix award at Cannes 2022 and selected as the Belgian entry for the 2023 Academy Awards, Close is an elegant, poetic and empathetic study of youth from acclaimed writer-director Lukas Dhont.

Thirteen-year-olds Léo and Rémi are inseparable; they spend every waking moment together, racing each other on their bikes, playing in the fields that surround their homes, and sleeping at each other’s houses. They are best friends, as close as brothers. However as they start a new school year, the pressures of burgeoning adolescence challenge their bond with unexpected and far-reaching consequences.

With incredibly authentic and emotional performances from newcomers Eden Dambrine and Gustav De Waele, Dhont’s latest film is as evocative as it is visually stunning, set against the rich landscape of the Belgian countryside. A powerful coming of age story, this profoundly moving portrait of male friendship offers a depiction of intimacy and masculinity that is sure to have an enduring impact.

The Garden Cinema View: A delicate study of male friendship, and a beautiful small-scale model of the society-wide pressure that is put on men to be ‘masculine’ rather than tactile, emotional, or gentle. The setting feels real and authentic, and the concrete reality of the boys’ school life is beautifully offset by the idyllic, golden hour hues of their home environment and childhood games, as they literally frolic through fields of flowers. The film is carried by the genuine performances of the young actors, as they are continuously filmed up ‘Close’, allowing us to scan their faces for any trace of their internal emotions. Their performances are only surpassed by Émilie Dequenne, who will break your heart as she grapples with the changes in her son’s life. Once you start crying, you will not be able to stop - bring tissues!

Cast:
Eden Dambrine, Gustav De Waele, Émilie Dequenne, Léa Drucker