Close

Close

Year: 2023

Runtime: 105 min

Language: French

Director: Lukas Dhont

Echo Score: 85
Drama

The intense and emotional story follows Leo and Remi, two close friends on the cusp of adolescence. Their seemingly unbreakable bond is tested as they confront difficult truths and experience a painful separation. The film explores themes of friendship, identity, and the challenges of growing up, portraying a raw and intimate portrayal of loss and the search for healing and understanding.

Warning: spoilers below!

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Timeline & Setting – Close (2023)

Explore the full timeline and setting of Close (2023). Follow every major event in chronological order and see how the environment shapes the story, characters, and dramatic tension.

Time period

Location

Rural Belgium

Set in a quiet rural area of Belgium, the film centers on a flower farm and the small community around it. The landscape features fields and farm work that frame the close-knit atmosphere in which Léo and Rémi's friendship unfolds. The setting emphasizes social pressures and the intensity of teenage bonds within a tight community.

🇧🇪 Belgium 🏞️ Rural setting

Last Updated: October 03, 2025 at 19:40

Main Characters – Close (2023)

Meet the key characters of Close (2023), with detailed profiles, motivations, and roles in the plot. Understand their emotional journeys and what they reveal about the film’s deeper themes.

Léo (Eden Dambrine)

A sensitive, conflicted 13-year-old who struggles with social pressure and fear of ostracism. He withdraws from Rémi after an emotional incident, hides his inner pain, and grapples with guilt over Rémi's suicide. His growth arc centers on confronting grief and accepting vulnerability.

💬 Reserved 🧭 Conflicted 🤝 Loyal

Rémi (Gustav De Waele)

Léo's best friend, affectionate and outgoing, whose sudden death triggers a painful unraveling of Léo's world. He is depicted as warm and playful, a contrast to Léo's reluctance to share feelings. His death becomes the catalyst for the film's exploration of grief and memory.

💬 Friendly 🫶 Gentle 🌟 Popular

Sophie (Émilie Dequenne)

Rémi's mother who provides a steady, supportive presence for Léo and Rémi's family. She embodies warmth and resilience, offering comfort and a beacon of care as the family processes tragedy. Her relationship with Léo deepens as he seeks solace.

💖 Caring 🧭 Protective 🕊️ Supportive

Peter (Kevin Janssens)

Rémi's father, a practical, steady figure who participates in the family’s emotional journey. He shares a responsibility for keeping the family together and supporting Léo as he grieves. His role anchors the film's everyday realism.

💼 Practical 🛡️ Steady 💬 Supportive

Charlie (Igor van Dessel)

Léo's older brother, a source of comfort and guidance who offers a window into healing and future possibilities. He helps Léo articulate his grief and navigate his evolving relationship with Rémi.

🧭 Protective 🤝 Loyal 🗣️ Honest

Last Updated: October 03, 2025 at 19:40

Major Themes – Close (2023)

Explore the central themes of Close (2023), from psychological, social, and emotional dimensions to philosophical messages. Understand what the film is really saying beneath the surface.

💔 Grief

The narrative follows Léo as he grapples with guilt and sorrow after Rémi's suicide, and the inability to express his pain to those around him. Grief is shown as an isolating process that compounds misunderstandings and emotional distance. The film portrays a tender, painful path to acknowledging loss.

🤝 Friendship

Two boys share a deep, intimate connection that outsiders misinterpret or threaten. The film tracks how outside judgments and fear of ostracism strain their bond. It examines loyalty, tenderness, and the fragility of childhood friendship under social pressure.

🌈 Identity & Acceptance

The boys' relationship unfolds in a context of homophobia and stigma. The story explores how characters navigate their own identities and the fear of rejection by family and community. It ultimately centers on seeking understanding and compassionate acceptance.

Last Updated: October 03, 2025 at 19:40

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Explore Movie Threads

Discover curated groups of movies connected by mood, themes, and story style. Browse collections built around emotion, atmosphere, and narrative focus to easily find films that match what you feel like watching right now.

Intimate Portraits of Adolescent Grief like in Close

Raw and quiet films about young characters processing profound loss.Find movies like Close that explore the raw and heartbreaking experience of youth coping with loss. If you were moved by the quiet, intense portrayal of a young person's grief journey, these similar dramas focus on the internal world and emotional weight carried by adolescent characters.

heartbreakingrawsomberquietreflectiveachingintimateoppressive

Narrative Summary

Stories in this thread typically follow a linear, character-centered path, beginning with a close relationship that is shattered by a sudden tragedy, often a death. The narrative then focuses on the survivor's journey through denial, guilt, and isolation, culminating in a slow, often painful, movement towards some form of acceptance or understanding, rarely offering a tidy resolution.

Why These Movies?

These movies are grouped by their shared commitment to portraying grief with raw intimacy and a slow, deliberate pace. They prioritize emotional authenticity over plot, creating a heavy, melancholic tone through quiet moments and a deep focus on the protagonist's psychological state, resulting in a profoundly moving and reflective viewing experience.

Movies about Fractured Male Friendship like Close

Stories where societal pressure silently strains close bonds between boys or men.Explore films similar to Close that delve into the quiet unraveling of close bonds between boys or men. If you were captivated by the story of Leo and Remi, these movies focus on the unspoken tensions and societal pressures that test masculine friendships, often with a melancholic and heavy emotional tone.

achingoppressivesombertenseintimaterawbittersweetreflective

Narrative Summary

The narrative pattern revolves around an initially strong, almost symbiotic friendship between two males. An unnameable pressure—often related to perceived masculinity or identity—introduces a wedge, causing one or both characters to pull away. The story explores the confusion, pain, and eventual consequences of this fragmentation, which can range from a permanent estrangement to a catalyst for a deeper tragedy.

Why These Movies?

These films are connected by their specific thematic focus on the nuances of male camaraderie under duress. They share a melancholic tone, a slow-burn pacing that allows the tension to simmer, and a high emotional intensity derived from what is left unsaid. The viewing experience is characterized by a sense of aching inevitability and profound sadness over a lost connection.

Unlock the Full Story of Close

Don't stop at just watching — explore Close in full detail. From the complete plot summary and scene-by-scene timeline to character breakdowns, thematic analysis, and a deep dive into the ending — every page helps you truly understand what Close is all about. Plus, discover what's next after the movie.

Close Summary

Read a complete plot summary of Close, including all key story points, character arcs, and turning points. This in-depth recap is ideal for understanding the narrative structure or reviewing what happened in the movie.

Close Summary

Close Timeline

Track the full timeline of Close with every major event arranged chronologically. Perfect for decoding non-linear storytelling, flashbacks, or parallel narratives with a clear scene-by-scene breakdown.

Close Timeline

Close Ending Explained

What really happened at the end of Close? This detailed ending explained page breaks down final scenes, hidden clues, and alternate interpretations with expert analysis and viewer theories.

Close Ending Explained

Close Spoiler-Free Summary

Get a quick, spoiler-free overview of Close that covers the main plot points and key details without revealing any major twists or spoilers. Perfect for those who want to know what to expect before diving in.

Close Spoiler-Free Summary

More About Close

Visit What's After the Movie to explore more about Close: box office results, cast and crew info, production details, post-credit scenes, and external links — all in one place for movie fans and researchers.

More About Close

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Discover movies like Close that share similar genres, themes, and storytelling elements. Whether you’re drawn to the atmosphere, character arcs, or plot structure, these curated recommendations will help you explore more films you’ll love.