Close (2022)

Close crafts a devastating narrative about the fragility of pre-adolescent friendship under social pressure. Léo and Rémi share a natural closeness until classmates' insinuations about their relationship lead Léo to abruptly distance himself. The film does not sexualize the boys' friendship; on the contrary, it reveals how the cruelty of their environment destroys a genuine and innocent bond. Rémi's suicide is not graphically depicted, yet its weight permeates the entire second half of the work. The direction opts for restraint: long silences, contained expressions, a grief that requires no words. Léo's arc is an attempt at impossible understanding and reparation: he seeks to comprehend what can no longer be mended.

For parents, accompanying the viewing is crucial. The theme of adolescent suicide demands conversation and context. The work does not glorify tragedy, yet its emotional rawness can be overwhelming for young or vulnerable viewers. It is not a film about ideology, but rather about the cruelty of conformity and the cost of exclusion. Recommended only for older adolescents capable of profound dialogue.