Original subtitles

Festival de Cannes

The Match Factory. Small green lights light up one after the other and form the logo WAF

Flanders Audiovisual Fund.

Menuet, Diafana Film, Topkapi Film and Versus Productions present in co-production with VTM

and RTBF Belgium Télévisions with the participation of Canal Plus and Cine Plus. Close, a film

directed by Lucas Don.

voila

What is it? I don't hear anything. You don't anything? And the armor and everything? You

think there's a lot? There must be at least 80. I'm looking. What they doing here? I

They're not in of What? I hear something. I can't anything. think they're on the roof.

And behind them, they're round. Stop doing that, you're annoying us!

You run and you speak in Korean. You farted. Go-

The two boys, about 13, cross a forest bordering cultivated They're running The friends run

among the flowers without paying attention to the working

Or not, he passes by a blonde in blue at and a man with who collects pink Do want to come

back Rémi's Do want come back to us one day? Maybe. Charly, his big brother, is around

Leo's It's so nice here, we're going to and the big brother now. It's good. Good job tonight.

The two friends in shorts and t-shirts resume their race in a field of cut

They arrive in the of a house surrounded by trees.

Leo caresses a big brown dog at the poilera.

Yeah. They lie down in the grass with a brown woman. Go the air Open the windows, boys. They

blow each other's hair Oh, that's perfect. Isn't that little grape? thing? Yes, we're

not your servants. I can hope. I can dream little. It's beautiful to dream. Yeah, to have

a devoted You're a devoted son, more devoted than my son. I was saying. Thank you. It

depends. It depends on the day. You too. I'm always at your mercy. warning you. When you

deserve Sorry, but it's true. We agree. I'm so nice to you.

In her room, Rémi, focused, plays clarinet.

Léo puts on him look full of tenderness and admiration.

I an idea. I'm going to be your manager. And we're going to around the world, even on the

moon. And we're going to be super rich. Yeah. Yeah? Yeah. I can still wait little longer.

Well, no. Go You show this everyone, you put this on YouTube. You're to a million likes.

All the celebrities from Hobo will want us. Alright, I get it. Where want to first if

we to leave? First, I want to play this song and then we'll If you have to leave, where

you want to First country. You can choose. Léo draws while laughing. He studies Rémi sitting

facing him against a red his arms on his knees folded. Rémi smiles at

In real life, it's beautiful.

Leo, open your eyes.

is cute.

Thank

Imagine. J-Pepe Canard.

You just got out of the tunnel.

You

They're yellow. You're but much more beautiful than the others.

See you Sure. I'm to leave you and meet a lizard You wonder what a lizard because you've seen

a lizard

I'm that it's the Zare and the Bizarre. And it rhymes.

But you like it because it a special like you

There do. I have get you on a drum. You start to on the trampoline You jump until you reach

the stars It looks a little bit a sister

Rémi s'endort, bercé par le souffle de son ami.

In the two boys in white robes sleep in spoons. Léo, glued to Rémi. A delicate ray of light

blooms their skin.

We are racing on a forest road, bag on the back. Leo takes the lead.

They enter a school's and watch the teenagers all around them.

Hello everyone, to the year. I don't you and I'd to learn to know you. But we'll try

to Dutch. My name is Baptiste, 13 years I hockey on ice. My hobbies are hockey, swimming,

racing. I want to be a hockey on ice. Pro hockey player? Yes. My name is Sekou, I'm

12 years I'm of basketball and football. Jules, listening? My name is Ines and I would to

work in politics. Anyone else? My name Jules and I eat a lot. And what do Pasta, pizza,

hamburger, fries, Dorum, Dorum Pita, salad and onions. You eat a lot, indeed. What

you to later? Taster. Leo puts his on Rémi's student sees him. Can I you? Who are you?

What do I know about you? The two boys hang out in the courtyard.

They approach a group of students who are Baptiste is among them. At the square, Rémi and Léo

are At the canteen. Léo is perplexed. Why you laughing? Why you laughing? I don't know,

I'm just laughing. I'm interested because you seemed really close to be best friends. But

it's not mean. The two blonde exchange glances.

Leo goes up to his room. He throws his bag and it falls on his bed. He looks at the ceiling.

His chest swells. video.

You liked school? Yeah, was... Did it go He says yes with You're in the same class as Rémi?

Yes. That's nice. Okay, do want to something? No, thank you, I'm not very hungry. Okay.

His mother is the blue-haired at She has very thin, clear His blond hair is held back a

low

In a field of white consciously the weeds. His parents work a little further.

Charlie, his big brother, collects flower heads with a quick and expert He wears a chain around

his neck and has a crushed

On Léo joins Rémy on the

Ciao! Ciao!

You to come with me? It's It's okay. You see? Same. It's okay. It's okay. The students

are sitting on a grass and the yard. is lying on his Rémi puts his on his friend's and closes

his eyes. Leo opens his and brushes his eyebrows. He looks at the other students sitting around

him. He rolls to side and puts himself on Leo's Rémi puts her head on Leo's keeping his eyes

closed. Leo gets out. Rémi's hits the ground. He stands up again, then stretches out to

a meter from his friend.

In the court, group of boys play football. The boys join them, having

Rémille observes, assis dans l'herbe.

Come here! I caught you! Rémi's a bearded with cat hair runs after the two boys. I'll catch

up with You're one who's going catch me! The mother of Rémi. All four of fight. At Léo

eats spaghetti. It's super good! It's edible! You know it's very good. you know the technique?

Let Try it. Watch out. Wow, again, again. Great. I'll Not bad. Leo stops at the clarinet.

Wait, one last time, one last time. Then I'll stop. I don't bother anymore. Sitting next

to him, Rémy observes him. I'm You're gonna Yeah. Yeah. everyone's come. I'm gonna come

in first row. I'm gonna scream. Oh, Yes. Rémi! If you that, I'll kill you. I know. That's

I'm doing it. That's nice. You're the concertmaster. Where the Rémy looks at the ceiling.

Léo slowly on his friend.

in the concert hall. Sophie, Rémi's is sitting among the audience. She looks her son with

admiration. On the stage, Rémi is standing, his clarinet in hand, eyes lowered. He wears

a red polo with a gray

Behind him, other children play the violin, led by a black shirt

Sitting in first row, Léo doesn't him alone.

The conductor is a singer.

Leo has wet

Rémy takes his breath again, he keeps his eyes on his pupil.

In the court, Léo and Rémi

A boy from the Dupas behind Leo, smacks his asses. A second one arrives. Leo smacks him.

you serious? What? I loved it! loved it, girl! You're so stupid! Shut up and go with your

shitty Go with your shitty I'm going to bed! I'm in prison!

Leo is embarrassed. the corridors of the school, Leo, Mossad, walks next to Rémi. Leo is close

to Baptiste, a teenager with curly and plump lips. It's been a while since you played ice

For four years. Is it hard? No, easy. You have to play. You know how Yeah. You should

try. I don't know. You don't know about him or about us? They exchange a smile. Rémi

and Léo walk in a field of white Léo looks straight ahead him and in of his friend who

gives him stealthy

In the barn, the two friends are sitting in their corners. Rémi holds a sword made of two

pieces of chiseled Léo, crossed looks at the sky.

Rémi bumps into something. He hides behind a wall. What you doing? Nothing. I'm your

What? What? Hide everything! What's there? Nothing! Stop making noise! Leo, his back

is shaking. I didn't see anything. But... Can't anything?

They are not really behind us.

Le soir dans le lit de Rémi. Léo puts on the looking into the void.

He looks at Rémi before discreetly his earring on the

then lie down.

Rémy turns around and considers his friend in the other bed

Le matin, Léo se réveille.

He turns his head and discovers Rémi sleeping next to him.

The boys are Léo jumps on him. Come on, up! What you in bed? I don't know. Why are you

attacking me? Because I want to. I'll you

No. Psst. Ah! Tu vas la tauler maintenant? Quoi, tu me mords? Parce que va dans ton lit.

Non.

The is that Rémi is lying in her bed. Léo is lying in the drawer. The two students turn

their backs. Under their white their chest is lifted.

Rémi, please the I told you not to the door.

I move when you open the door. I go in, you open. What's wrong? Close the door. I don't

want you to the door. I until three, Rémi. Rémi. Rémi, eat a little. Rémi obeyed with

heart. Rémi. I'm not hungry. What do What Don't Eat this, you have something in your

stomach. What? I have a stomach Don't It's okay. Don't If you stomach don't It's okay.

A tears are Why you crying? It's just a

Eh?

What's wrong? I'm going to a lemon with hot swear it's do you good. I'll you know. There

you go. Look. Wait. Like this. this.

Léo catches up to Rémy accelerates.

Leo is with friends. He checks with other students, then looks for Rémi. When Ronaldo

leaves, what am going to I'm watch Kylian Mbappé. I'm to him stronger. You're already dead.

You're You're You're dead. You're dead. You're You're dead. You're You're You're You're

Leo joins Rémi sitting on Pelouze's He plays piano on his phone.

Thank you.

It's a good thing, yes, a bad thing. Rémi shakes her head. Rémi keeps her head down.

It's a good thing we're going.

Léo renounces and loses himself in his thoughts.

OK, les gars. Tout le monde sent la glace. Allez.

Okay, guys. Okay. Continue, give up. Control your trajectory. Look where you're When there,

your weight. Try it, it's not a Take the turn and push on the leg. Good job, kid. You're

great. Focus, this it's Let's start the exercise. In the curve, student of Dufay is pumping.

Leo is excited.

Who put that?

At the skate park, they slide with ease. Keep going, don't

on, boys! Come on! Come Come on Leo joins his online against the Leo joins his teammates

online against the Hey, Baptiste.

Behind the window, Rémi looks for Léo's that turns away.

On the Léo is his big sports in the back. Maybe I should try it too.

cover. I'm ready.

Why you answering? I'm answering.

Rémy closes. The two boys drive side side, each fixing the road.

He looks sad. Leo carries two buckets full of orange He joins his mother and empties

in a box.

You're to see Rémi tonight? No. Why? Because... He's leaving. Okay.

At Leo sleeps wrapped in his sheets.

He his eyes.

Under a beautiful morning sun, Leo is pedaling energetically, face closed and his bag on back.

3 episodes. Rémi is boarding Léo. Why you here? I ate too early. I left too early.

Léo an almost despicable Rémi accuses him of No, you always for but now you're me. I

told you I left too early. No. They exchange glances.

Rémi, stop crying. Rémi, stop

Rémi, I told you to stop. Rémi, told you to stop!

Calm down, stop! Calm down! They free and run. Charlie rest and trains them to furthest.

It's over, Rémi. It's over. Rémi, over.

Leo is upset, eyes full of His big brother, Emu, by the shoulder.

At night, in the rain, machine is shaving a field of

Lighted by the headlights, Rémy collects the waste in the damp ground and throws into a

dump.

Leo and his brother carry a heavy basket full of arms.

The sun rises shyly, the rain stopped.

On the in the ground, Leo's unbutton the red flower

What?

in the court. Leo sees Rémi arguing with two girls. Leo and copying him. He turns his

head to Rémi, who feels his gaze on and hides his face briefly.

Leo, look at your sheet. The pipe of a mower spits bubbles in a trailer. The high, kneeling,

push-ups and stutters as He is sweaty, his face and hands full of dirt. He follows the

truck, picks up the trash and throws in the trailer.

In a bus. Remy? Gabriel? Louis? Julia? Calypso? Adam? Not too far in the

you

The students put their hoods.

This is first time I've seen my life!

In the bus, a phone call is very tense. Leo observes it. Children, have at the school.

will see that your parents are there. You join your parents and you go directly to the Why?

We don't anything in the bus. Why are there parents? We will explain that inside. Oh,

my God. They the others down and remain still.

Come on, there. Meet your parents. Leo, come. We have to get off the bus. He's slowly His

gaze lost. Come. Leo. Come. His mother joins in the bus. Come with me. What's

Come. Why?

She walks around her, disheveled.

something

It's Rémi. You see...

I'm the hospital.

His mother has red She turns around for a few moments, then faces her son and shakes her

head in response.

Léo doesn't her eyes. Her tears rise.

Come on. Leo! Leo! The teenager is on his bike. His mother follows him in the

release my bike suddenly and run away.

for a labored The Mossad darkens slowly. I room for the night.

Leo walks towards Rémi's lit up. He stops in front a window. He freezes upon seeing the

door of broken

In a halo of orange light, Léo closes his and lets the tears flow on his face deformed by

pain.

The silhouette of the teenager is in the the baths.

and man.

The tears are in the of his eyes.

It's day. Leo sleeps all dressed up in his bed. His breathing is regular.

He opens his and reaches out to his nightstand.

He sits on his and looks at the ceiling.

He changes his shirt.

He gives him a sweater.

and put on his pants.

He goes down and takes his jacket. I'm going to Eat something first. No, I'm not very

hungry. Then drink something.

He drinks a glass of milk.

You want to me on my scooter? No, I'm to take my bike.

Charlie, you're going to school today.

scooter is the size of his big brother.

I cry easily enough, so I can't really control it. Sometimes it comes out on my So I'd say

being strong isn't about being able It's about being able to explain. You shouldn't apologize.

It's important that can talk about together. And you know what? You think that sometimes

your emotions can catch up with Oh, yes. Sometimes it explodes. But it's not always in tears.

When was the last time you cried? Crying because sadness or hate? Sadness and hate are very

close. It's different. When I it's because anger. Most of time. And Leo, do you something

you want to with us?

Not so well. Okay. Neil? You know if there's anything, you can come and talk me? If you

any questions.

Click it to find out.

I'm gonna...

He says yes with and leaves.

The sea of ​​Lehouen is flying.

of a

Okay. That's it, stop! it, it, Leo knocks on the He gets up and runs on the wall in front

of Leo gets back his feet, waiting.

Come on, keep going, try to sprint. Another effort, go, go, go! Come

Leo.

But you didn't go.

He his eyes.

Léo remains prostrate in his bed. Under a sad and grey Leo walks low, alongside his family

and the rest of the cortege.

He's Sophie.

Leo is sitting in back of the car, with a serious

He remains still.

bien. person. not forced to eat.

I'll you in place.

His brother and his parents are far away.

He football.

Baptiste! Baptiste!

YAAA!

Leo sees Sophie emptying Rémi's For example, beautiful bird or a big bird. Now, these

three words, which one the most important? big bird or a bird? A bird. It's our noun,

our common But could also add another noun, like... At night, Léo wakes up and sees that

his sheets are wet. He takes off his pyjama.

and made his bed again.

He slowly Charlie's

and lies down next to him.

In the courtyard, children are fighting a snowball battle. you

the music.

Thank you. That's wrote that Rémi was very smiling, sometimes he was a bit annoying.

He was nice, he was Leo's I laughed with him and that he was always happy. That's what

you keep me. How do he's always happy? That's how we saw him. Do really he's always happy?

It's up him, Leo.

It's funny. What's funny? What you doing? Nothing. Why you laughing? Where you? We all right

to express our feelings. Okay? It's important to people talk, okay?

Left or Left.

What time Almost 8 o'clock. Well, hurry up, then. No, it's okay. We're in time. We'll get

I don't want to late. We'll be there. We won't be late.

you

The and are in the audience.

In the dim light of the room, Léo contains his emotion.

I'll

His wet gaze rests on Sophie, sitting a little further away.

Okay.

I've too!

Perceives Sophie behind the window.

Keep the pace, Come a bit more. Speed up. It's end. Come guys, don't give OK, guys,

you trained You can change. See you week.

Under his helmet, Leo takes his breath and skates to edge of the ice rink.

I can't really recognize you all that. He observes the cut at the square of the young woman.

It's nice to hair like that. Do like it? He says yes. She puts on the reinforcements of

her equipment. You look strong.

You're happy with your team, are They confirm. I sometimes bit of a back-up, but it's okay.

And he calls him.

I don't know.

Thank

You spoke to all others.

Leo looks and shakes his head.

I'm turning my vision up high. It's cold. How get here? I took my bike. Do me take

back? No, it's not too far. You can whenever you want. the evening.

The face closed.

In evening, he hesitates for moment behind the door of the living

The parents of Rémi are there. Do you like It's very good. It's delicious. I've criticized

the vegetables. That's It's good.

like school? Yes, yes. There's section of exams coming up. So I'm working on it. That's

makes believe. No, I'm really No, I'm working, dad. He's convincing. Well, you're too. His

skill is that he manages to by making little effort. It's just that when the exams are

I study. And now I study. You can't believe I'm not Anyway. It's But no, it should be

okay. It should be okay. Very good. And you, are you

Yeah, yeah, everything's fine. Everything's fine? Yeah.

I'm starting to get to studying. I plan to for a year. I to travel the world with my girlfriend.

I the sound of the earth. I'll probably by car if I my driving license. I'll through

the East and then go to Australia.

Sophie is so good

She's leaving the table.

No.

Leo observes Sophie qui prend l'air dans la nuit noire.

Come little effort! dies. Come on, Stand up, Leo! And you're you're off.

Continue. And you're back. you go. back. There you go. the speed. Go Leo!

Allez, reprend le !

You a kick in the ice and go back.

I'm gonna

Allez, Léo!

He leans forward, breathes quickly and falls on his in a grimace.

It's beautiful. Leo and Charlie, in t-shirts, install flower-like in the lockers of a remorque.

He bags of dirt on his shoulder.

the field, he inserts flower cages in a plant machine.

Plenty of dirt, he drinks in a plastic

He spreads the earth around the plants.

Charlie le soulève. Il le porte sur son épaule.

Hi. Hi, how are you? I'm fine. Good day at school? Yes. Hello. Hello, young man. Can

you stay the Yes, no problem. We have school so I'd like it late. Yes? Yes. OK. See you.

I'm bed. OK, good night. Be careful. I'm dead. Run. I'm behind you.

you

Lea Hall observes un instant.

Then, settles on his back, hands on his belly.

He looks at the ceiling.

Le matin, Léo, en T-shirt manche courte, se dirige vers la maison de Rémi.

He stops for moment at the the thinking.

The dog runs towards him. kneels and caresses him.

Leo raises his Sophie moves towards him, smiling, arms crossed. She a black jean and a blue

Black cerns underline her eyes.

Come here. Did see? Did see who's there?

on TV.

I'm happy to see him He missed you.

Do you time? want go home? What would like to Water is fine. Water? Yes. Do want some

milk or lemonade? No, water is fine. Here. Thank you. I want some water

Where he later? He's at work. I'm not working I'm enjoying myself.

And you at home? Are okay? We started planting. Really? That's You learned? Dad and Charlie

taught me. So? So you like Yes. At first it was hard because we had to look everywhere,

had to do lot things at the time. We had to vigilant to see if they were But then it was...

It's getting easier when you You're to used to That's it. You do it all together. That's

nice.

And at school? It's okay. The teachers? Some are nice, some are very annoying. That's

It's always like that. Forget the annoying things and focus on the good

You still water? Tell me if you want. I'll to pee. You can go pee. You know the house.

If you want to pee, not a big

They exchange a look that makes feel nostalgic. Les yeux rouges de Léo trahissent ses émotions.

Sophie, gets a little behind her Did you come to see me? Bye.

He observes the the sad then moves on to the next one.

His attention is on a small yellow in plastic.

He feels a presence behind him. He turns around. On the threshold, Sophie observes him,

You something, take it. Thank you,

and enters the room.

Some the are scattered on the desk.

I wasn't it.

Léo was and ran from Sophie's

She sits on the bed.

Leo, head down, turn his back.

The boy remains motionless. From the back of his hand, he wipes his eyes and

I have go. I forgot I have something to do.

knocks on door of his room and keeps it closed. His mother tries to open it. He takes off

his T-shirt. Leo. She's to get What's Leo is arguing. Calm down. Stop.

He abandons her. His mother holds him firmly against her.

and teammates are in the

Come guys, push, push! An opponent runs on the high and on his Three teammates are struggling

to lift him.

In the infirmary, Léo is seated, face closed. blue-collar wraps a band of plates around

her wrist. Drowned in his thoughts, the teenager looks him like a bandage.

C'est très sucrispe.

Tears flow and crush on his t-shirt.

That hurts? Léo is not in the mood. C'est l'arme tombe en pluie.

The nurse caresses his shoulder with compassion. Leo's gently his forehead against his and

tears. A broken arm hurts. The two adults comfort the boy.

The is back in the car. The outside, looking at the vast fields of hair in the wind.

In he slides under the bedside next to his brother asleep.

Léo turns around and gets lost in his thoughts.

Charlie enlaces his little brother and blunts against him.

Their eyelids close.

class. Okay, guys, you for this year. See you next year. Have good holiday. Bye. The

students leave the school in a shows a big smile. Several signatures arm his plate in

his wrist. In afternoon, a house, the teenagers celebrate. Leo is seated. He watches his

classmates jump and dance in rhythm. Without a it's stomp step step. His eyes are wet.

I'm in the middle of a long road with trees.

He He is moving in the high grass of the garden in Frisch, towards Sophie's

Sitting in of he walks around him

In a bus, he holds on the bar.

The crosses the parking lot of a hospital. He enters the building at the Baie Vitrée.

He meets a woman in wheelchair, pushed by a nurse in white blouse. He the entrance of

regard and takes a long corridor. He looks out into an open room and continues his journey.

He walks through the doors.

He stops, looks around him.

He passes in of a nanny.

He enters a waiting He turns towards the bottom of the room separated by large windows. In

the room the waitress, Sophie in blue, smiling, caresses a baby. She raises her eyes and sees

Leo. His smile fades away.

The baby is in the arms.

What you doing there?

How did get here? I took the bus. Qu'est-ce que tu veux ?

Bye bye.

Sophie drives on the road bordered by She wears her work blouse. Leo, with down, looks into

the void.

Suck a zoom on.

Sophie considers him a credule.

Love yous.

The young woman fixes it. Disoriented.

Leo is

Sophie, a la larme aux yeux.

Elle crague à son tour.

Leo looks at the corner of the eye.

Leos, get out the car.

He crosses the forest in a quick pace, taking a look behind him.

She turns around and stares.

A few meters, Leo faces him, armed with a big piece wood.

He slowly in front of him and steps back.

Sophie approaches slowly.

She comes right up to Leo lifts the abruptly. Sophie holds his arm. She takes the in her

arms and lets him

She uses all her strength against She caresses her hair.

you

... The doctor takes the plaster off Leo.

L'adolescent s'exécute.

Under a sunny Leo walks towards Sophie's He moves behind one the

and observes the interior of the house. Empty.

Put your hand on the

Leo runs into the

She turns around and points a point far away.

Look him.

continues her route.

It was Close, a film by Lucas Don with Eden Dambrine in the role of Leo, Gustave de Wallet

in the role of Rémi, Émilie De Ken, Sophie, Léa Drucker, Leo's Igor van Dessel, Charlie,

Kevin Janssen, Rémi's Mark Weiss, Leo's An audio description written by Raphael Valenti

and Nel Conry Valenti. Read by Raphael Valenti for iVenti in 2022.