Director Lukas Dhont met his leading actor Eden Dambrine on a train ride. The young boy was sitting in front of him and speaking to friends, but Dhont couldn't hear what he was saying, as he himself was listening to Max Richter's music. Only watching his facial expressions, he found Eden the perfect fit for the character, and approached him and asked if he would want to take part in a casting. Dambrine immediately said yes and eventually got offered the role of Leo.
Before naming the film "Close", director and writer Lukas Dhont used the working title "We Two Boys Together Clinging", from a 1961 painting by David Hockney which inspired him. The title originally comes from a verse by Walt Whitman taken from 'Leaves of Grass' (1891-1892).
Official submission of Belgium for the 'Best International Feature Film' category of the 95th Academy Awards in 2023. It was ultimately nominated for the Oscar.