X
The story follows thirteen-year-old best friends Léo and Rémi, whose intense, tactile bond is shattered when they enter a new school year. As their classmates begin to comment on the intimacy of their friendship—asking if they are "together"—Léo becomes self-conscious and begins to pull away. He seeks refuge in more traditionally "masculine" activities like ice hockey, leaving the more sensitive Rémi confused and heartbroken. The second half of the film deals with the tragic consequences of this rift and Léo's struggle with grief and guilt. Themes and Style
: The film critiques a society that views close emotional or physical bonds between boys with suspicion, effectively "policing" their affection until it becomes a source of shame. Close.2022.P.WEB-DL.1O8Op.mkv
: Dhont captures the "in-between" stage of adolescence where the freedom of play is suddenly replaced by the pressure to conform. The story follows thirteen-year-old best friends Léo and
Close was a major critical success, winning the at the Cannes Film Festival and receiving a nomination for Best International Feature Film at the 95th Academy Awards. Reviewers from Rotten Tomatoes and Metacritic widely praised it for its sensitive handling of a difficult subject and its powerful performances. The second half of the film deals with
: Much of the storytelling is wordless, relying on tight close-ups and the expressive faces of the young lead actors, Eden Dambrine and Gustav De Waele. The vibrant flower fields where the boys play serve as a poignant visual metaphor for their blooming, then harvested, innocence. Critical Reception