Lukas Dhont Says Belgium’s Oscar Entry ‘Close’ “Came From A Deeply Personal Place” – Contenders International
deadline.comWinner of the Grand Prix at this year’s Cannes Film Festival, Lukas Dhont’s follow-up to the transgender drama Girl is another moving study of a difficult adolescence.
Speaking at Deadline’s Contenders Film: International award-season event, he described the film as the story of two best friends Léo and Rémi. “They’re 13 years old,” he said, “and they have been best friends since forever.
It’s a beautiful, tender and intimate friendship, and we follow them as they go to high school. As their closeness starts to become questioned by their schoolmates, we see how that will impact their friendship.” RELATED: The – Deadline’s Full Coverage Dhont revealed that the inspiration actually came from a non-fiction book called Deep Secrets by American psychologist Niobe Way. “She followed 150 boys between the age of 13 and 18,” said Dhont, “and at the age of 13 she asked them to talk about their male friendships.
When you read these testimonies, they are filled with vulnerability. These boys dare to use the word ‘love’ very openly — their vocabulary is very emotional.
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