This film's rating has been sunk by transphobes. If you are a reasonable person, don't let them put you off. It's a fine portrait of a painful family situation, with a lovely romantic twist that leaves the ending full of promise.
The dialogue needed sharpening -- e.g., we hear Sam tell his family twice how much he likes his job, but we don't know what he does; and there's a little too much wistful cinematography; but the performances are strong, and Elliot Page and Hillary Baacke are outstanding. It comes together in a surprisingly satisfying way. I want to see Elliot Page team up with Patricia Rozema on his next film! That would be a lot of fun.
Close to You
2023
Action / Comedy / Crime / Drama
Close to You
2023
Action / Comedy / Crime / Drama
Plot summary
A trans man returns to his hometown for the first time in years. On his journey, he confronts his relationship with his family, reunites with a first love, and discovers a newfound confidence in himself.
Uploaded by: FREEMAN
September 20, 2024 at 12:21 AM
Director
Tech specs
720p.WEB 1080p.WEBMovie Reviews
Far better than its rating
An OK film about a trans person returning home
Sam has left home - the small town of Coburg - moved to Toronto, and has transitioned from female to male. He now takes a trip home - the 1st in 4 years. On the train, he happens to meet Katherine, his best friend from high school.
The reason for the return is his father's birthday party, which allows the writers to populate the family with a selection of attitudes about the transition. His father is mostly relieved that Sam has found himself, and is no longer in pain. His mother will always remember him as her little girl, consistently misgenders him (not necessarily maliciously), and is concerned about his well-being, compared to his sister who stayed in Coburg and got married. His sister wonders why he never confided in her, when they shared a bedroom growing up. And his brother-in-law is transphobic.
Escaping the family, Sam seeks solace with Katherine.
This is a Elliot Page vehicle, inspired by his life. The direction allows him to casually show off his boy bod. This answers the question "where are they now"? However, after this autobiographical-inspired story, I am wondering what other projects he will appear in.
Using available-light photography lost one star by me. Too often, the subjects were shot with a background of a bright window, making it to hard to see facial expressions.