{"id":13689,"date":"2022-12-02T20:34:33","date_gmt":"2022-12-03T01:34:33","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/cinemadailyus.com\/?p=13689"},"modified":"2022-12-02T20:34:33","modified_gmt":"2022-12-03T01:34:33","slug":"film-review-belgiums-oscar-submission-close-is-a-tender-upsetting-story-of-childhood-friendship","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/cinemadailyus.com\/?p=13689","title":{"rendered":"Film Review – Belgium\u2019s Oscar Submission \u2018Close\u2019 is a Tender, Upsetting Story of Childhood Friendship\u00a0"},"content":{"rendered":"

Children and teenagers are capable of an unfortunate cruelty to each other that is in most cases learned from watching other people, be it adults in their lives or characters on television or in film. The need to ostracize those who feel different can have immeasurably detrimental effects and lead to tragic consequences. Even in an evolving society where different identities are becoming more accepted, one brutal comment can be enough to make someone else miserable. Close<\/em> <\/strong>examines a seemingly unbreakable bond between children and its unfortunate unraveling.<\/p>\n

L\u00e9o (Eden Dambrine) and R\u00e9mi (Gustav De Waele) are best friends. They spend all their time together, sleeping over at each other\u2019s houses and enjoying warm relationships with both their families. At school, they do sometimes interact with others, yet they\u2019re still able to frequently exchange cheerful glances and smiles. When a classmate asks L\u00e9o if he and R\u00e9mi are a couple, L\u00e9o reacts defensively and gradually starts pushing R\u00e9mi away, a jarring shift in behavior that causes R\u00e9mi a great deal of pain.<\/p>\n

\"Close\"
Courtesy A24<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

What makes this premise so intriguing – and devastating – is that L\u00e9o feels a need to turn away from the closeness he feels with his best friend even when the two of them being a couple wouldn\u2019t be something controversial or even out of the ordinary. It might be the giggling that accompanies the question that pushes him to respond so sharply, but it\u2019s an honest query, one that doesn\u2019t impart judgment, and which likely involves that giggle because the two of them are an endearing and adorable pair. And L\u00e9o isn\u2019t even trying to hide anything, since there is no romantic component to their relationship, merely an inseparability that quickly turns sour when L\u00e9o starts to distance himself from R\u00e9mi.<\/p>\n

Close<\/em><\/strong> comes with its own added set of expectations because of director Lukas Dhont\u2019s previous film, his debut feature Girl<\/em><\/strong>. The portrait of a transgender dancer from a cisgender male director starring a cisgender male actor was met with alarm due to the problematic portrayal of its lead character and her mental health. In his follow-up film, Dhont demonstrates a greater understanding of and sympathy for his protagonists, though viewers should be cautioned that the film does include upsetting content. Dhont is evidently comfortable working in spaces with the potential to be disturbing and pushing against established social norms in the service of compelling storytelling.<\/p>\n

\"Close\"
Courtesy A24<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

The greatest assets of Close <\/em><\/strong>are its two stars, both of whom make their film debuts with these roles. Dambrine presents L\u00e9o as an affable, gentle kid who has no trouble making friends and is capable of radiating kindness, which makes his shift to hostility all the more jarring and heartbreaking to watch. De Waele portrays R\u00e9mi as considerably shier and more deferential, adoring his best friend with more sufficient social skills. The hurt R\u00e9mi feels and has trouble processing when L\u00e9o starts to ignore him is truly palpable, a testament to the strong performances of these two young actors.<\/p>\n

Close<\/em><\/strong>, which is Belgium\u2019s official Oscar submission for Best International Feature, also features potent turns from adult actors including \u00c9milie Dequenne and L\u00e9a Drucker. Like last year\u2019s shortlisted Oscar submission, Playground<\/em><\/strong>, this is another film that deals with subjects that can be better comprehended and analyzed by adults but which involve and affect children. There are some who will feel the need to avoid such films altogether, but there is something absolutely worthwhile and important to be found in this type of exploration. Thanks to its talented breakthrough stars and a careful, attentive eye from Dhont, Close<\/em><\/strong> is able to cover sensitive material in a responsible and powerful way.<\/p>\n

Grade: B+<\/strong><\/p>\n

Check out more of Abe Friedtanzer\u2019s articles<\/a>.<\/p>\n