Close (2022) -

Close follows Leo and Remi, two thirteen-year-old best friends who share an incredibly intense and affectionate bond. They spend their summer days playing in flower fields and sleeping over at each other's houses. However, when the school year begins, their classmates make assumptions and tease them about the nature of their intimacy.

Dhont brilliantly captures how casual, everyday schoolyard peer pressure can force children to abandon their authentic feelings just to assimilate.

Close is an undeniably devastating but profoundly necessary film. It serves as a gentle reminder of the pure, unfiltered love children are capable of before the rigid walls of societal norms are forced upon them. It is a masterpiece of modern Belgian cinema that will linger in your mind long after the credits roll. Close (2022)

Young actors Eden Dambrine (Leo) and Gustav De Waele (Remi) deliver incredibly raw, authentic, and emotionally demanding performances that anchor the entire film.

Dhont relies heavily on expressive close-ups, body language, and silence to convey massive, complex emotional shifts rather than over-explaining them through script. 🏆 Critical Reception and Accolades Close follows Leo and Remi, two thirteen-year-old best

Pressured by social stigmas and the desperate need to fit in, Leo begins to pull away and distance himself from Remi. This sudden disruption of their friendship causes a painful rift between the two boys, leading to a sudden and profoundly tragic event that forces Leo to confront the consequences of his actions and navigate immense grief. ✨ Key Themes

The cinematography utilizes brilliant, vibrant color palettes—most notably the dazzling, sprawling flower fields run by Leo's family—as a direct visual metaphor for the boys' blooming youth and eventual loss of innocence. It is a masterpiece of modern Belgian cinema

The film acts as a heartbreaking examination of how societal expectations of masculinity systematically dismantle emotional intimacy between young boys.