CLOSE MOVIE REVIEW
In 2023 , the idea of toxic masculinity is still alive . Close is a must-see film that bluntly displays the damages this ideology has on young men .
Close is an Oscar-nominated Belgian film that chronicles the tale of two 13-year-old boys , Leo and Remi , who are about to enter middle school . The two boys are exceptionally close , even sharing a bed together . Despite their intimacy , the two are nothing more than friends . It is a poignant coming-of-age drama that encapsulates the devastating effects toxic masculinity still holds today .
Directed by Lukas Dhont , in what is only his fourth film , and starring newcomers Eden Dambrine and Gustav De . The pair manage to perfectly portray the internal struggle of the transition from boys to men . Leo ( played by Dambrine ) slowly drifts away from Remi ( played by De ) after they are constantly accused of being a couple by their peers . As the story progresses , we see the pair grow further and further apart until tragedy strikes . Dhont ’ s directing is raw and visually stunning as he takes advantage of the scenic setting of rural Belgium .
One standpoint of the movie is the natural chemistry between the two boys , laced with improvised conversations between them , the audience ends up feeling the pain Remi feels after being abandoned .
It also points out why boys cannot be as close to each other without their sexuality being questioned . It ’ s the sad truth that despite this ideology they can be who they want to be , but the reality is that they can ’ t .
Close is a tale for the ages , its subject matter is one that is common to the real world and bravely tackles it without tinted glasses . The film deals with the subject of toxic masculinity , something that adds to how men ' s mental health is perceived in society and adds to the stigma surrounding it .
08 MENTION IT ISSUE 1