CLOSE is a great movie with a powerful story that ultimately needed to be a bit shorter to be perfect. It deftly crosses genres and subverts expectations, placing its viewers into the shoes of its main character, Léo, exploring his close relationship with his friend Rémi.
CLOSE isn’t an easy movie to watch, and I haven’t seen anything like it. It’s a slice-of-life coming-of-age drama, but it deals with intense issues – at thirteen, almost nothing seems normal anymore. We watch as Léo and Rémi navigate their lives; director and co-writer Lukas Dhont imbues so much realism into his characters that you can’t help but be taken back to yourself at that age.
The only flaw this movie has is its runtime – at 105 minutes, it’s not long but drags before its climax. The only reason I don’t recommend seeing this movie immediately is because of the intense content, but you should watch it when you can. The acting performances by the young characters are phenomenal, but those of their onscreen parents, who play a major role in the story as well, are excellent, too.
CLOSE, which is set and created in Belgium, is now playing in theaters. It’s nominated for the Oscar for Best International Feature Film.
