Close To You
Summary
Directed by Dominic Savage , Close to Youmarks Elliot Page ’s return to the big screen after a seven - year hiatus — and it ’s an implausibly welcome return . There ’s simply no downplay that fact . A family drama - meets - unrequited - love - taradiddle , tightlipped to Youoffers its mavin a hazard to cue us whyElliot Page is an Oscar - nominated role player , as it allows him to substantiate all things tough and tender . There ’s brainpower , vulnerability , strength , and a searing authenticity to Page ’s portraying of Sam , a trans serviceman who ventures to his hometown for the first time in years .
Cast
While he has been wanting from feature article roles in front of the photographic camera , Elliot Page served as an executive produceron narratives and documentaries , includingBackspotandAny Other Way : The Jackie Shane Story , and appeared in TV shows , likeTales of the Cityand thefourth and last time of year ofThe Umbrella Academy . While it ’s playfulness to see Page recreate roles like Viktor Hargreeves or using his platform to amplify other voices , it ’s as gratifying to learn him wager a character whose lived experience resonate , at least in part , with his own .
Elliot Page explains the import of his shirtless scene in upcoming motion picture Close to You . The player described this minute as " liberating . "
Elliot Page Returns To The Big Screen With A Career-Best Dramatic Performance
Close To You captures its main character’s lived experiences with nuance and authenticity
In talk withThe Guardian , Page remarked that shootingClose to Youwas “ a high spot of my life as an actor " — and it ’s sluttish to see why . In the film ’s opening here and now , Sam stares out his bedroom windowpane , watching the world from behind glass . Over breakfast , he tells his roomy , Emily ( Sook - Yin Lee ) , that he ’s anxious about leaving their household in Toronto to visit his family . For Sam , the very idea of proceed to his family ’s home was riddled with burdens , frustrations , and emotional labor .
Although well - intentioned , his family members seem to require pat on the back for but value his existence . Intention is n’t the same as encroachment — something queer and trans folks know all too well . On the train drive , Sam run into his former crush , Katherine ( Hillary Baack ) , who ’s now marital with kid . The two have a pleasant yet strained fundamental interaction ; clearly , there ’s a lot that ’s gone unuttered , but deeply felt . Although Sam has a few other meaningful run - in with Katherine , most of the film center on celebrating Sam ’s don , Jim ( Peter Outerbridge ) , who winds up being Sam ’s heavy ally and supporter .
It ’s cathartic to hear Page express these trueness so exactly and candidly within the relative guard of a feature - length film .
While Sam ’s before long - to - be brother - in - law Paul ( David Reale ) is the most overtly transphobic character , Sam ’s sib and mother , Miriam ( Wendy Crewson ) , emphasise a dissimilar kind of trauma . Sam ’s babe , Kate ( Janet Porter ) , regurgitates a tired but all - too - real talking distributor point , annunciate that she ca n’t think she and Sam shared a elbow room while raise up and that she did n’t really know him . Kate tell Sam that everyone , particularly their parents , are distressed about him and his prospects in Toronto .
“ When I was the most ailing , no one f***ing worried , ” Sam enjoin his sister . It ’s purgative to hear Page verbalize these truths so incisively and aboveboard within the comparative prophylactic of a feature - distance film . pageboy utterly catch that terrible , sinking realisation that comes with know that your kinsfolk did n’t truly occupy about youwhen you were n’t fine . It was easier to overlook Sam ’s sadness because at least his story fit their own narratives .
It ’s incredibly muscular to see these scenes act out onscreen , even when they ’re weighty . When Paul run short on a ranting about needing to obey the “ formula ” related to Sam ’s identity element , Sam has no problem calling Paul out . Of course , it ’s thwarting that none of his siblings abuse in . It ’s even more thwarting when Sam ’s mom suggests give Paul a second chance — the chance to justify . “I do n’t have to just ignore it , ” Sam cue his household . That ’s something many theorize ally demand to not just hear , but sit with .
Elliot Page is a various worker who has star in multiple pic , admit Juno and these 9 other movies deemed to be their right by IMDb .
Close To You Can’t Overcome Its Narrative & Pacing Issues
The film boasts some memorable scenes, but it keeps viewers at arm’s length
Despite Page ’s stunning performance , cheeseparing to Youfalters in some big means . Reportedly , a lot of the conversation were improvise , which leaves room for a muckle of drained space and redundance . That ’s not of necessity out of true of life , but it certainly drags down the scenes in terms of pacing and engagement .
And then there ’s the picture ’s other yarn — Sam ’s reunion with Katherine , the woman he loved in his younker . Despite both actors ’ charms , there is n’t credible romantic chemical science between them . In part , that ’s because Katherine is little more than a sketch — a case who reminds you that they are , in fact , a persona , because they just seem drop into the game of a picture show for the rice beer of its beats . Of naturally , Baack does her unspoilt with the scant material .
Page ’s beautifully nuanced and searingly felt public presentation will stupefy with me …
Often , Close to Youtries to intermix two separate films into one tale . Sam float back and forth between his family and Katherine , but it never feel like the threads are part of the same tapis . The family drama game is the stronger of the two , the more amply earn and nuanced , but the movie insists on using Sam and Katherine ’s relationship as bookends . It ’s powerful that Sam always mat up safe and close to Katherine , even pre - physical conversion , but I ca n’t facilitate but wonder if a family phallus could have better served that emotional journey .
Close to Youbegins and cease with Sam at a windowpane . While Page ’s attractively nuanced and searingly felt carrying into action will cohere with me , the picture as a whole feel like something I see through a window myself — one with frosted - over panesthat , try as I might , I could n’t come up clean for a clearer , closer view of the narrative play out on my screen .
Close to Youis in select theaters across the nation on August 16 , followed by a release in the UK and Canada on August 23 .
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closely to You is a play film by director Dominic Savage and premiere at the Toronto International Film Festival in September 2023 . Sam return four years after his conversion to visit his forefather for his birthday in Canada , fearing what grade of adoption he ’ll receive . However , a probability encounter with an quondam admirer from high school force Sam to confront his past .
