Watch the award-winning Close for free with The Skinny & MUBI
The CineSkinny Film Club returns this month, and kicks off with free screenings of one of 2023's best films so far – Lukas Dhont's Close
The CineSkinny Film Club is back! Our film screening series returns in collaboration with MUBI, and we have a whole host of free screenings planned throughout 2023. The series kicks off later this month in spectacular style with one of the best films of the year so far: Lukas Dhont’s Close.
The Skinny and MUBI are teaming up for two free screenings of Close in Glasgow and Edinburgh ahead of the film's UK cinema release on 3 March.
On 21 February we’re at Summerhall and two nights later, on 23 February, you’ll find us at the CCA in Glasgow. To reserve a free ticket for either screening, click the links below.
Close at Summerhall, Edinburgh – 21 Feb; tickets here
Close at CCA, Glasgow – 23 Feb; tickets here
Close is an achingly tender story of friendship and grief follows the tight-knit friendship between two 13-year-old boys, Leo (Eden Dambrine) and Rémi (Gustav De Waele). They’re the best of pals, and spend lazy afternoons roleplaying as medieval knights while at night they usually sleep over at each other's homes, happily sharing their single beds.
Their unselfconsciously tactile and tender friendship is challenged, however, when summer ends and they begin high school, where several kids raise an eyebrow at how close the two boys are. Confusing teen desires come face to face with toxic masculinity and sends their friendship into a tailspin.
Belgian filmmaker Lukas Dhont proves himself to be a skilled director of young actors. Dambrine and De Waele give beautifully natural performances full of surprise and poignancy. The jury at last year’s Cannes certainly agreed, awarding Close the Grand Prix, essentially the runner-up prize to the Palme d’Or.
Save the date! We'll be hosting the next edition of The CineSkinny Film Club sponsored by MUBI in April:
Summerhall, Edinburgh – 24 Apr, film TBA; CCA, Glasgow – 26 Apr; film TBA
Close will be released in cinemas in the UK and Ireland on 3 March and is streaming on MUBI from 21 April. Find out more here.