Here is a short essay exploring the themes and impact of this powerful film:
Lukas Dhont’s 2022 film Close is a devastatingly beautiful exploration of the transition from the boundless intimacy of childhood to the rigid social structures of adolescence. Through the story of two thirteen-year-old boys, Léo and Rémi, the film examines how societal expectations regarding masculinity can fracture the most profound human connections. Here is a short essay exploring the themes
The first act of the film establishes an idyllic, almost Edenic world. Léo and Rémi share a bond that transcends conventional labels; they are inseparable, spending their days playing in flower fields and their nights whispering in shared beds. Their intimacy is pure and unselfconscious. However, this world shatters upon their entry into secondary school. When classmates question the nature of their relationship, Léo—vulnerable to the pressure to "fit in"—begins to pull away. Léo and Rémi share a bond that transcends
This withdrawal is the film’s central tragedy. To prove his masculinity, Léo adopts a persona of toughness, joining the ice hockey team and intentionally distancing himself from the sensitive, artistic Rémi. The "closeness" that once defined them becomes a source of shame for Léo and a source of profound, silent suffering for Rémi. Dhont masterfully uses tight framing and lingering close-ups to capture the internal shifts in the boys’ emotions, making the audience feel the weight of every avoided glance. When classmates question the nature of their relationship,