Close

CLOSE is a story of pubescent friendship in the 21st Century. Two boys are inseparable. They spend their days and nights together, running, cycling, and playing video games. Remi is artistic. He draws and plays the oboe. Leo is athletic. He plays ice hockey. They have fun together and have frequent sleepovers. When they are put in the same class at school, their closeness is noticed by their fellow pubescent classmates, who ask them if they're "a couple." And thus begins a dramatic change in the boys' friendship. This is a very sensitive film with fine naturalistic performances by a cast that makes it seem at times that we're watching a documentary. Especially impressive are child actor Eden Dambrine as Leo and Emile Dequenne as Remi's mother. It's an odd film in that a lot of details, as far as the events are concerned, are missing. There are a lot of unanswered questions. But the emotions are vivid and extremely detailed. This is a sad yet provocative film that is well worth seeing.

I saw this at the NZIFF, it was a very well presented movie.

The changes from wide open fields of flowers and freedom for two young boys, to the drabness of a classroom and the sterile colours of an ice hockey rink.

Sound design was on point as well.

All of this was able to show the different worlds the characters inhabit

The main story hits some real emotional notes, some that hit very close to home for me. It doesn't pull it's punches.

The two lead boys, both are amazing, for boys so young to give such great performances. The adults do really well, especially Remis mother.

The emotions that the actors could portray, even without saying anything were extraordinary.

I've seen literally thousands of films and I have to say that "Close" ranks as one of the finest I've seen. As someone who had a very close friend who rejected me simply for who I am when I was younger, this film brought that experience so much more into focus for me that I openly wept throughout most of the last half of its running time. As a result, I found myself having a hard time forgiving the character of Leo as the film progressed, but eventually I felt I had no choice.

The performances and the chemistry between the two leads who play the main characters are so real and natural that at times I forgot I was watching a scripted and directed film rather than a documentary. I found the same true-to-life characterizations in Lukas Dhont's earlier film "Girl." He's clearly a very gifted director, and I would love to watch this man direct actors to understand how he's able to pull such amazing performances from them.

The film is also beautifully photographed, much of it taking place in the French countryside.

"Close" is reportedly going to be nominated for an Oscar here in the U. S., and I hope that helps it get the wide exposure to audiences it so richly deserves. The message in this superb, heartbreaking film is that friendships are so much more important than we actually realize and that as males, the toxic masculinity we encourage among ourselves can ruin lives.

Wow!. I'm glad I didn't know what this film was about, before watching it. The only thing I knew beforehand, is that it was about the close friendship between two young boys. I recommend watching this film with little to no knowledge of what happens, but make sure you have plenty of tissues ready to use. The acting performances of everyone in the movie is top shelf, but the two lead actors are truly exceptional, especially the lead actor "Eden Dambrine".

It's been a long time since a film has had such a BIG and profoundly deep impact on myself. It touched a part of my heart I had completely forgotten about, from my own childhood. I suspect many people will have a similar reaction. I'll be thinking about this movie for weeks to come and look forward to buying it on Blu-ray disc, when it is released. This brilliant movie has earnt a place in my top ten desert island collection of best movies ever. I can't recommend this movie enough - if you have a Heart, watch it. Highschool kids should watch this movie and discuss it afterwards.

Normally I don't go to this kind of flicks but it has been said that this Belgian entry for the Oscars could win. So on a rainy night in a foreign city I went to see it at a very small venue.

The title says exactly what you get. A story about two teenage friends getting close somehow in their friendship and people do ask themselve if they are in love. But not only that is close. The way it was shot also brings you close to the characters.

I can tell without spoiling that at the end of this flick I heard a lot of crying at the venue. Why? Because most people do recognise thelselve in the storyline.

Excellent performances by the teenagers knowing that they weren't actors at all.

Okay, I agrre, Belgium is on the road for an Oscar.

Gore 0/5 Nudity 0/5 Effects 0/5 Story 3,5/5 Comedy 0/5.