On the cusp of adolescence, Léo and Rémi spend their carefree summer building an intimate bond of friendship, but as their days of bicycle rides through dappled flower farms and cuddling sleepovers fade into the school year, their closeness is scrutinized and called out by their classmates. Rémi is unfazed, determined to stay true to their friendship, while Léo is angry and distraught, pulling away from Rémi out of self-conscious fear and taking up ice hockey to distance himself from his best friend. As the rift between them widens into an irreparable, tragic rupture, Léo struggles through feelings of guilt and responsibility for his betrayal, and connects with Rémi’s mother, Sophie, in the hopes of making sense of the world he now lives in. Director Lukas Dhont captures Léo and Rémi’s boyhood with a gentle vision of youth and innocence, exploring the fragile nature of friendship and masculinity in this stunningly lyrical tour de force.
Grand Prix (tied), Cannes 2022
Community Partner
Lukas Dhont
Eden Dambrine, Gustav De Waele, Émilie Dequenne, Léa Drucker, Kevin Janssens, Marc Weiss, Igor Van Dessel, Léon Bataille
Belgium/France/Netherlands
2022
In French and Dutch with English subtitles
Self Harm, Gender or Sexual Discrimination
Book Tickets
Missing VIFF? Check out what's playing at the VIFF Centre
Ali & Ava
Bradford, West Yorkshire. Ali (Adeel Akhtar) is a music nut, and the most sympathetic landlord you will meet in a movie this year. Ava (Claire Rushbrook) is a teacher, a widow, and a grandmother. Clio Barnard's love story has music, humour and hope.
Everybody to Kenmure Street
This rousing documentary (100% Fresh on Rotten Tomatoes) never puts a foot wrong as it recreates a tense, prolonged stand-off between the police and the citizens of Glasgow when an Immigration Enforcement squad attempt to arrest two men from their homes.
The Silence of the Lambs
Hannibal "The Cannibal" Lecter (Anthony Hopkins) gives FBI serial killer hunter Clarice Starling (Jodie Foster) pointers from his maximum security cell. But is he trying to aid the investigation, or just messing with her head?
Thelma & Louise
In this iconic feminist road movie BFF Geena Davis and Susan Sarandon take off for a weekend getaway that turns violent when one of them is attacked. The stakes get higher as they flee the scene. Winner: Best Original Screenplay (Callie Khouri).
Credits
Producer
Michiel Dhont, Dirk Impens
Screenwriter
Lukas Dhont, Angelo Tijssens
Cinematography
Frank van den Eeden
Editor
Alain Dessauvage
Production Design
Eve Martin
Original Music
Valentin Hadjadj