I had the opportunity to see Close to You in its limited release, and it moved me in ways a film hasn't in ages. The emotional depth from Elliot Page and Hillary Baack's performances leave you with feelings of grief, compassion, and hopefulness.
So much of Page's character resonated with my own experiences as a queer, neurodivergent woman. It is a portrait of someone who has and continues to come home to themselves, having to revisit the home that raised a version of them that was never whole. The pain, conflict, and anxiety that comes with wanting to be part of the family that unintentionally harms your spirit. It was encouraging to see the dichotomy of a loving family that is also having unhelpful behaviors illuminated on the path to learning and understanding.
More than anything, this film is about the diverse complexities of the human experience. It will leave you with a heaviness that is necessary to truly see every aspect of a person's experience. It healed parts of me that I often forget need attention. Beautifully shot, excellent performances, and a story worth exploring together externally and internally.
