Labeling a film in which there is a character who seems to have homosexual tendencies, with the acronym LGBTQ (which for many does not mean anything or seems like a riddle) not only pigeonholes any work in the category of films focused on characters that confront traditional notions of gender, but also does it a disservice by driving away en masse those people who need to become aware of their intolerance. The more so a film like «Close», which sheds light on a phase in the growth of the male adolescent, in which they are often victims of prejudice and ignorance of parents, friends, educators and religious figures. (*)
«Close» presents a situation like that posed by E. M. Forster in his novel «Maurice», which takes place among the British upper middle class, while the Belgian film is set among Belgian farmers. In «Maurice» there is a passionate romance between two university students, Maurice and Clive; in «Close» there is a beautiful friendship (as in the Greek "agape") between two 13-year-old teenagers, Léo (Dambrine) and Rémi (Waele). In both movies, one of the boys rejects the other and the relationship ends in a painful manner. However, if «Maurice» tells its story from the point of view of Maurice, the rejected young man, in «Close» the center of the plot is Léo, the boy who rejects Rémi.
We know that children and adolescents of the same sex often can adore each other, and that sometimes they practice sex in a way or another. The same is the case with girls. For many it is just a phase in their lives, not a deterministic past that will "haunt" them forever. The reasons for the change are common: it is an "adjustment" in the growth of individuals, in which they choose the way of life that they are going to live the rest of their days, because they want to or to climb the social ladder. If, as certain LGTBQ militants affirm, those who "converted" are reluctant gay people who adjust to heteronormative life (which is true to a considerable extent), in many other cases it is not so.
And that is what Léo does in «Close». Léo wants to "belong" to the youth culture in his school, to interact with others, and he does not want to be labeled as Rémi's lover. None of his actions contradicts the fact that there is a deep love between the two boys. It is not a case of "sissies in love." No, it is the love between two like-minded people, for whom the moment comes when their intimacy must evolve or change.
Rémi is a character that moves the audience: he has a bright future as an oboe player, he is sensitive and sweet, but Rémi does not understand Léo's rejection. Léo does not know how to manage the matter. And the tragedy occurs 44 minutes into the film. The remaining 60 minutes are the time for growth, for accepting responsibilities and guilt feelings and defending options.
More melodrama than pure drama (especially with that "opportune" turn 44 minutes into the story), with music guiding emotions, it is, however, a sober melodrama with good music and well dosed. As Cannes was fond of giving gifts to everybody in 2022, in addition to the Palme d'Or that «Triangle of Sadness» won, the jury awarded the Festival's Grand Prize to «Close».
(*) I may be wrong but I think of the LGTBQ community as a group of grown-up persons, emotionally and physically, including young adults. But I am not so sure of including kids who are still looking for their identity, which nowadays is recognized as a construct of many colors and weights.
«Close» presents a situation like that posed by E. M. Forster in his novel «Maurice», which takes place among the British upper middle class, while the Belgian film is set among Belgian farmers. In «Maurice» there is a passionate romance between two university students, Maurice and Clive; in «Close» there is a beautiful friendship (as in the Greek "agape") between two 13-year-old teenagers, Léo (Dambrine) and Rémi (Waele). In both movies, one of the boys rejects the other and the relationship ends in a painful manner. However, if «Maurice» tells its story from the point of view of Maurice, the rejected young man, in «Close» the center of the plot is Léo, the boy who rejects Rémi.
We know that children and adolescents of the same sex often can adore each other, and that sometimes they practice sex in a way or another. The same is the case with girls. For many it is just a phase in their lives, not a deterministic past that will "haunt" them forever. The reasons for the change are common: it is an "adjustment" in the growth of individuals, in which they choose the way of life that they are going to live the rest of their days, because they want to or to climb the social ladder. If, as certain LGTBQ militants affirm, those who "converted" are reluctant gay people who adjust to heteronormative life (which is true to a considerable extent), in many other cases it is not so.
And that is what Léo does in «Close». Léo wants to "belong" to the youth culture in his school, to interact with others, and he does not want to be labeled as Rémi's lover. None of his actions contradicts the fact that there is a deep love between the two boys. It is not a case of "sissies in love." No, it is the love between two like-minded people, for whom the moment comes when their intimacy must evolve or change.
Rémi is a character that moves the audience: he has a bright future as an oboe player, he is sensitive and sweet, but Rémi does not understand Léo's rejection. Léo does not know how to manage the matter. And the tragedy occurs 44 minutes into the film. The remaining 60 minutes are the time for growth, for accepting responsibilities and guilt feelings and defending options.
More melodrama than pure drama (especially with that "opportune" turn 44 minutes into the story), with music guiding emotions, it is, however, a sober melodrama with good music and well dosed. As Cannes was fond of giving gifts to everybody in 2022, in addition to the Palme d'Or that «Triangle of Sadness» won, the jury awarded the Festival's Grand Prize to «Close».
(*) I may be wrong but I think of the LGTBQ community as a group of grown-up persons, emotionally and physically, including young adults. But I am not so sure of including kids who are still looking for their identity, which nowadays is recognized as a construct of many colors and weights.