"Close" by Lukas Dhont

Lukas Dhont’s 2022 released film “Close” opens a way of understanding between the binary oppositions of closeness and distance of two best friends in their late childhood. The relationship between Léo and Rémi is at first very close as two siblings; however, it is damaged when a thought of the possibility of being a homosexual couple occurs in the mind. 

After that, Léo alienates himself from Rémi and their mutual habits. The audience doesn’t really know whether they are homosexual or not. Even if it’s not true, the idea itself bothers Léo deeply, and that’s why he seeks other options to get away from Rémi’s close friendship.

In the first half of the film, the most heartbreaking event happens: Rémi commits suicide in his bathroom. Thus, the audience is left alone with sorrow and grief throughout the second half. We can truly observe Léo’s feelings and reactions, even in his eyes. Eden Dambrine (Léo) made a great job during the movie and reflected terrifically on how a child can behave. 

Léo accuses himself deeply; however, in some scenes, he reflects his emotions through anger, and in some scenes, he chooses to stay calm and disconnected. However, deep down inside, Léo wants to confess the situation and the possibility of the reason why Rémi kills himself. He feels scared of Rémi’s mother’s reaction. He plucks up courage and confesses the distance between them. Meanwhile, Léo is also afraid of the possibility that Rémi’s mother could hurt him because of the confession, but he gets an unexpected response from her: she hugs him, and they cry together in the woods. This scene solves and settles down lots of difficult emotions hard to cope with. 

The film resolves in the end when Léo walks across the flower field that they used to pass through, and he finally allows himself to grieve for Rémi.