Close (2022)

Close (2022). 1h 44m | K-12

“Thirteen year old u0026quot;Léou0026quot; (Eden Dambrine) and his schoolfriend u0026quot;Rémiu0026quot; (Gustav De Waele) are inseparable. The play together, eat together, sleep together – an ideal fraternal relationship. At school, though, their classmates start to make disparaging remarks about them, and the naturally more gregarious u0026quot;Léou0026quot; begins to shun his friend a little, then a little more… Tragedy ensues after u0026quot;Rémiu0026quot; doesnu0026#39;t show up for a school trip and the repercussions hit the young u0026quot;Léou0026quot; and u0026quot;Sophieu0026quot; (Émilie Dequenne) – the mother of his friend – especially hard. On one level this film is about cruelty. Not a deliberate, malevolent style of cruelty – but one of indifference, of ignorance – a bullyu0026#39;s sort of cruelty. On another it is a story of love, loyalty – betrayal even. It is an highly emotional film with two excellent performances from the young boys conveying their respective responses to a bewildering array of suspicion and judgements being thrust their way by those who knew no better – but should have. Itu0026#39;s about parenting, about openness and about how people deal with tragedy in their own, personal way – and it is very effective. It really does leave a lump in your throat afterwards. Well worth a watch.”