Close is Dhont ’ s coming-of-age film about the changing friendship between two adolescent boys , Leo ( Eden Dambrine ) and Remi ( Gustav De Waele ). In the beginning stages of the film , which take place in an idyllic rural community in Belgium during a summer vacation , Leo and Remi are longtime best friends and do everything together . Whether romping through the fields of flowers , racing on their bikes , or running on the seaside , they are happy and carefree . Then fall comes , and they start secondary school with new classmates and new challenges . Some students begin to bully them and make comments about them being “ together .” Leo denies it vehemently , and the unpretentious friendship between the two begins to fall apart . Leo distances himself more and more from Remi . He joins the “ in group ” on the playground and even starts training with the hockey team , a very pronounced male sport . Leo ’ s sudden change of heart takes its toll on Remi as the film marches on to a tragic and very emotional climax .
Close
*****
Belgium / France / Netherlands 20233 Opening January 26 , 2023
© Pandora Filmverleih
Directed by : Lukas Dhont Writing credits : Lukas Dhont , Angelo Tijssens Principal cast : Eden Dambrine , Gustav De Waele , Léa Drucker , Émilie Dequenne
The most outstanding component of Close was , in my opinion , the superb acting on the part of Eden Dambrine . That a 13-year-old boy could express so much joy , pain , or loss just with his eyes , sometimes without even uttering a word , was remarkable . Also , the supporting roles of Gustav De Waele as the talented but very sensitive Remi , Léa Drucker as Leo ’ s caring mother , and Émilie Dequenne as Remi ’ s suffering but understanding mother deserve commendable mention .
I also admired Dhont ’ s ability to successfully lead us through so many different emotional stages , such as when we experience the joy of a childhood friendship and then the pain of its disintegration , or Leo ’ s nagging guilt and , of course , the pain of loss , each character having to deal with it individually . 105 minutes . ( Karen Schollemann )
Belle continued from page 39
sheep farm though , Cécile feels their mom Corinne ’ s ( Michèle Laroque ) ungraciousness ; obviously Noémie did not consult her . Wearily , Sebastian and “ Mamie ” settle into a routine — she gives directions that the 10-year-old halfheartedly follows . Taking on local kids ’ dares , the city boy meets Corrine ’ s neighbor Yves ( Aurélien Recoing ) and Belle for the first time . Subsequently , that night he returns to see the dog ; what he sees instead prompts him to do another good deed , the consequence of which he does not understand until his grand-mère , aunt , and he take the sheep and goats to the French Alps for summer feeding . When Belle appears , actions speak louder than words and the two grow stronger together . Until Gas turns up . By then , any attempt at finagling only seems to backfire .
French author Cécile Aubry ’ s successful book series Belle et Sébastien spawned a few films and a television series featuring the characters she created . Director Pierre Coré and Alexandre Coffre ’ s adaptation retains the uplifting spirit of the boy ’ s ( only six in the 2013 film ) and dog ’ s bonding , although something is lost in its converting . This version is a hodgepodge of well-known classics , e . g ., Heidi by Johanna Spyri , and the general shallowness of the additional characters . Undoubtedly , Coré was challenged working with his principals , a boy and a Great Pyrenees dog , although that likable pair , and particularly Laroque , carry the film . The locations are breathtaking , the production values sound . The film is in French , and the German subtitles are too quick and needed a dash of yellow for readability . Nevertheless , Belle & Sebastian will excite people ’ s imaginations and warm the cockles of youngsters and youthful heart ’ s alike . As people say , “ To err is human — to forgive , canine .” 96 minutes ( Marinell Haegelin )
40 In Hamburg