Close To You

Close to You is a film that delves deeply into the complex and often painful journey of queer and trans individuals, presenting a narrative that will resonate on multiple levels for queer and trans people. Directed and written by Dominic Savage, and featuring the remarkable Elliot Page – read our review of his autobiography here. This film offers a poignant exploration of identity, family, and lingering shadows of the past.

SYNOPSIS: Sam (Elliot Page) hasn’t been home since his transition. After four years in Toronto, he takes along-dreaded trip back to his hometown for his father’s birthday. Once there, he confronts unresolved wounds and reconnects with an old friend.

From the opening credits, we are introduced to the charismatic and authentically performed Sam (played by Elliot Page), it becomes clear that Close to You is more than just another queer story. The film, co-authored by Page himself, draws viewers into a world that feels intimately familiar yet startlingly fresh. Sam’s return to his childhood home for his father’s birthday, the first visit since his transition, sets the stage for a tense and emotional rollercoaster.

Elliot Page as Sam in Close To You, courtesy of Mongrel Media.

Set against the backdrop of Toronto and Coburg, the film captures the unique essence of both cities, with iconic scenes at Kensington Market, and Union Station. These locations add a layer of realism to the narrative, grounding the emotional turmoil in a tangible world.

The tension in Close to You builds methodically, particularly as Sam reunites with an old high school friend, Katherine, played by Hillary Baack, who is also an advocate for casting deaf people in film. Their reunion, initially warm, quickly unravels as Katherine’s discomfort with Sam’s transition becomes apparent. Baack’s portrayal of Katherine is both nuanced and heartbreaking, capturing the confusion and fear that often accompany the realization of a friend’s significant life changes. The film’s use of mirrors and reflections in key scenes emphasizes the duality of the characters, suggesting that each person’s story is more complex than it appears on the surface.

One of the most striking aspects of Close to You is how it handles the theme of family. The film does not shy away from the awkwardness and discomfort that often arises when a trans person reconnects with loved ones. Savage cleverly places Sam at the center of a family photo, a metaphor for the burden of expectation and the emotional weight that Sam carries. The interactions with some of the family member reveal an underlying transphobia, despite their attempts to maintain a facade of normalcy.

“You’re judging my emotional state by my jam volume?” 

-Sam

Elliot Page delivers a performance that is nothing short of brilliant, embodying Sam with a depth and empathy that makes the character feel achingly real. Sam’s journey is not just one of returning home but of confronting the past, reconciling with the present, and facing the future. Page’s portrayal is so authentic that it’s easy to forget you’re watching a film; Sam becomes a person you feel you know, someone whose struggles and triumphs resonate deeply.

The best coming out story of this generation.

-Raymond Helkio, The Reading Salon

The film reaches a pivotal moment when Sam finally feels seen by those who matter most. This tear-jerking scene is a testament to Savage’s ability to craft a narrative that is both deeply personal and universally relatable. The family dynamic, while fraught with tension, is also intensely warm and caring, offering a glimmer of hope amid the pain.

To think about love and family and what it means, and how eternal love is possible and how family can be impossible. To think about the changes that Sam has made in his life. Above all, for audiences to think about themselves.

-Dominic Savage

Close to You is a beautiful, heartbreaking film that pays tribute to the overwhelming challenges faced by trans individuals. It’s a story about love, identity, and the impossible journeys that queer and trans people undertake. Whether you’ve experienced similar struggles or are simply seeking to understand them, this film will leave you sad, angry, and full of love for every queer and trans person’s journey.

Close To You
Coming to Crave Friday, August 16, 2024
100 minutes

CAST
Elliot Page
Hillary Baack
Peter Outerbridge
Wendy Crewson

DIRECTED BY
Dominic Savage

WATCH THE TRAILER