Close is a coming-of-age drama film directed by Lukas Dhont, written by Dhont and Angelo Tijssens, reteaming after their first feature film Girl (2018). Close premiered at the Cannes Film Festival on May 26 2022 to critical acclaim and the Grand Prix. The film was submitted for the Academy Award for Best International Film at the 95th Academy Awards, and made the December shortlist. The film also won the André Cavens Award for Best Film by the Belgian Film Critics Association.
The film follows the thirteen year olds Léo and Rémi who spend the long summer holidays in innocent intimacy, but when the school year comes, their friendship is thrown into disarray as their relationship is noticed and commented on by their contemporaries. In reaction to their insulting or intrusive comments, Léo attempts to distance himself from Rémi.
Close’s cast includes stars such as
- Eden Dambrine as Léo
- Gustav De Wele as Rémi
- Émilie Dequenne as Sophie
- Léa Drucker as Nathalie
- Kevin Janssens as Peter
- Marc Weiss as Yves
- Igor van Dessel as Charlie
- Léon Bataille as Baptiste
Close has a score of 91% 100% on the web aggregator Rotten Tomatoes. The website’s critics consensus says “So moving for a majority of its runtime that not even a manipulative ending can ruin the experience, Close is a tender and powerful acted look at childhood innocence lost”. On Metacritic, the film holds a score of 83 out of 100, indicating “universal acclaim”.
The film impressed critics for Dhont’s script and direction, whose cinematography and technique, as well as narrative structure, was praised for its ability to deal with the theme of adolescence and coming out. The film has been associated with Luca Guadagnino’s 2017 Call Me by Your Name.
Close has been nominated 38 times on different awards, winning a total of 29 prizes. The film had a nomination at the Golden Globes. The film was also nominated at the Critics Choice Awards, and won an award at the Cannes Film Festival.
