CLOSE-Movie Review-- A Heartbreaking, Compassionate Tale Of Friendship(A24)Sphere Films Canada

The film received an Academy Award nomination for Best International Feature Film.

We often remember those good friendships we had when we were younger and how some of those friends end up being more like family. Remi(Eden Dambrine) & Leo(Gustav De Waele)are such friends and are starting their new year at middle school, prior to that we are shown them just being kids and sleeping together, even when Leo tells Remi a story about floating to space and makes sounds of space to help Remi sleep, a tender moment. This is the first film for both of the young actors.

               Remi(Eden Dambrine-left) & Leo(Gustav De Waele-right)

They are walking side by side as they enter the schoolyard and we can feel how close they are, these two young boys are very convincing and very good in their roles. In one scene Remi rests his head on Leo's shoulder and gets a glancing look from a classmate, nothing is said, but still seen. They hang out a lot after school, running through fields, riding bikes, playing games, etc. One day at school one of their classmates asks if they are together, like a couple. Leo defends their friendship and states they are more like brothers and asks if she has seen them hold hands or kiss?

The camera pans but stays focused on the two, but as things progress Leo starts to distance himself from Remi, Remi notices that things are changing but Leo does not say anything. Leo is not wanting to do things with Remi as much, pulling them farther apart, until there is a very emotional argument in the schoolyard and they start to fight, which terribly upsets Remi.

This film is heartbreaking, and yet refreshing to see so much compassion in one film.

Leo & Remi lay in the grass with Remi's mother, who is played by, Émilie Dequenne-(Brotherhood Of The Wolf). A very warm and gentle character, Sophie, is both a friend and an empathetic adult for the young boys, such strength in her performance, less is more here, and delivered with such tenderness and love.

There are scenes where the director allows the camera to just observe, sometimes life has no dialogue. 

I can certainly see why this film has been nominated.

It's only February, but this is one of the best films I have seen so far this year.