Anthony Schatteman's first feature film, Young Hearts follows in the tradition of initiation stories exploring self-discovery and love. Written and directed by Schatteman, the film also features a screenplay by Lukas Dhont. Director of Girl (Caméra d'Or at Cannes 2018) and Close (Grand Prix at the 2022 Cannes Film Festival), the latter brings his own touch to this Belgian-Dutch drama that sensitively tackles the question of sexual orientation through the eyes of a 14-year-old teenager.
Starring two promising young actors, Lou Goossens and Marius De Saeger, Young Hearts is supported byAFCAE Jeune Public. Already awarded the Prix des collégiens Cannes Écrans Juniors 2024 and a Special Mention by the Youth Jury at the Berlinale (Generation Kplus section), the film is poised to make its mark.
Young Hearts will open in cinemas on February 19, 2025.
Synopsis: 14-year-old Elias lives in a small village in Flanders. When Alexander, his new neighbor of the same age from Brussels, moves in across the street, Elias realizes he's falling in love for the first time. He will have to face up to the inner chaos caused by his budding feelings in order to live his story with Alexander to the full and reveal it to everyone.
Young Hearts should appeal to a wide audience, especially teenagers and young adults, but also anyone sensitive to tales of love discovery and identity construction. This intimate LGBTQIA+ drama could stand out for its delicate approach to the question of sexual orientation, through an emotional and sensitive teenage romance. Inspired by the director's own story, this film could offer a new model for depicting happy homosexual relationships on screen, something that is still rare in contemporary cinema.
Viewers who have enjoyed films such as Call Me by Your Name, Summer 85 and the Heartstopper series, should find a similar emotional resonance in Young Hearts.
With Young Hearts, Anthony Schatteman promises an LGBTQ+ drama both intimate and universal, set against the backdrop of a first teenage love story. Supported by prestigious festivals such as Cannes and Berlin, it could make a lasting impression with its sensitivity and nuanced treatment of self-discovery.
This article is based on information available online; we have not yet viewed the film or series mentioned.
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