Közel

Streams of blood are replaced by streams of tears, but the fact that it's so emotionally charged that it even took down Evil! It's a good idea not to find out anything about the film beforehand, it hits the unprepared much harder. While it's not quite the kind of film I seek out and the central theme is not one of my favourites, it has to be admitted that the film holds the attention (the excellent child performances pull it up a lot!). The whole film has a very heartbreaking mood and the sadness is conveyed to the viewer in a really respectable way. I wouldn’t recommended to mothers, there is a risk of emotional breakdown, seizure and lifelong consequences! Sometimes I need something this touching and strong after all my favourite twisted hogwash and martial arts flicks. 8/10. (2024.04.07)

For me the second strongest experience of this year's edition of the KVIFF. An emotionally powerful drama that resonated with me. On top of that, it looks gorgeous, with rich colours, beautiful image compositions, and I thank every filmmaker who doesn't take the view that a festival drama has to be drab, grey, and ugly. (56th KVIFF) (2022.07.10)

Close is a relatively simple, but extremely emotionally charged drama, which stands on excellent performances (the child actors in particular deserve praise) and the sensitive direction of Lukas Dhont. It's very tear-jerking, but never overly so, the director managed to find a great harmony in how to dose the emotions. [KVIFF 2022] (2022.07.23)

The world of teenagers, like the world of adults, is full of emotions that can move, fill and cheer, as well as hurt, empty and sadden. Close is at first glance an unassuming slice-of-life film, but one that has a poignant depth and manages to wring emotions out of the viewer and awaken empathy with what is happening on the screen in strong but not overbearing doses. Thirteen or thirty years? If there is a rift between loved ones, it hits just as hard, and not everyone can cope with the situation. One then deals with the eventual tragedy in one's own way, in proportion to one's age and understanding of the world. Close, however, would not have been as compelling narratively if it weren't for the wonderfully convincing performances, especially by Léo and Rémi, who take on the roles of the two gradually drifting friends to perfection. The last time I was struck in such a way in the field of drama was The Father, which was completely from the opposite end of human life. (2023.01.06)