Young Hearts (2024): Review and Summary
“Young Hearts” delivers the type of innocent, first love you rarely see since most LBTQ+ romances are about kids well into their teens who see the pinnacle of any potential relationship as having sex.
| Film Length | 1 Hour 37 Minutes |
| Advisory Rating | Not Rated |
| Release Date | October 13, 2024 |
| Initially Available On/Via | Film Festival – Newfest |
| Genre(s) | Romance, Youth, LGBT+, Non-English (Dutch), Non-English (French) |
| Distributor | Strand Releasing |
| Director | Anthony Schatteman |
| Writer | Anthony Schatteman, Lukas Dhont |
| Based On Work By | N/A |
| Character Name | Actor |
| Elias | Lou Goossens |
| Valerie | Saar Rogiers |
| Alex | Marius De Saeger |
| Fred | Dirk van Dijck |
Plot Summary
It was love at first sight despite Elias not knowing what love was. Well, he knew how to play the role with his girlfriend, Valerie, but it wasn’t truly felt until Alexander moved in across the street. But, with no examples of queer couples in his life, especially his age, we watch Elias navigate the push and pull between the fear, anxiety, and overwhelming feelings of being in love, alongside the bliss, comfort, and giddiness it can cause.
Audience
If you thought “Close” was beautiful but wanted there to be reciprocity or want a young queer romance that doesn’t push having sex as the ultimate form of intimacy, “Young Hearts” is for you.
Other Noteworthy Information
- Movie Contains: Cursing, Derogatory Language, (Brief) Nudity, Drinking, Vomiting, Smoking
- Lukas Dhont is also known for “Close.”
Review
Our Rating: Positive (Worth Seeing)
Highlights
It’s More Internal Struggle Than External Struggle
Are there people who tease Alexander and Elias? Yes. But it is far more about Elias’ internal journey than what the outside world thinks. After all, with Valerie, he was doing what he saw, what has been depicted as the norm, and while fine with what they had, he knew it wasn’t love.
But with Alex, it was this overwhelming feeling. The kind that makes you think it wasn’t just about being gay but Alex’s influence that led to the push and pull of their relationship. How can a guy, someone who isn’t your brother, who can have your heart more than your beloved grandpa, be someone who you just as much want to kiss, play fight with, and lean onto?
It’s the type of conundrum that reminds you the coming out process is far more an internal reconfiguration than anything else. The coming out part is what happens after your process everything going on inside you, and you feel relatively sure about how you feel.
Elias and Fred’s relationship
Fred, Elias’s grandfather, is someone who, in a lot of films, you’d expect may have one sweet moment with Fred, make him feel seen and loved, but Elias wouldn’t do much for him in return beyond provide company. That’s not the case with “Young Hearts.” Unlike the majority of films, especially romance films, Elias isn’t a lead who just takes and puts people through things as he goes on his journey.
On a regular basis, seemingly voluntarily, Elias spends time with his grandfather, and Fred isn’t just someone waiting for Elias to show up. He has the farm, we’re shown he has friends, and while he is a widow, he isn’t necessarily identified solely by how lonely he is. His existence doesn’t depend on Elias, and due to that, you see a balanced relationship that allows both to benefit, which makes it so when either opens up to the other, it is a treat.
I’d even submit that a few moments between them could get you teary-eyed.
The Innocence Of It
The majority of LGBT+ films and shows we’ve seen have always had a sexual element to it. Even with the most innocent of them in “Heartstopper,” there was still some element of lust or the push that sex was part of the end game. “Young Hearts” is void of that.
Yes, there is brief nudity, but that is when Alex decides to get naked to go swimming. Beyond that, there is a strong focus on kissing (just pressing lips), holding hands, all those things that are so overwhelming with your first love that the idea of sex isn’t even there for you can barely handle what you are doing now.
Moving out of the LGBT+ realm, I would even say the portrayal of first love and all it could do to you, I haven’t seen to this degree since “Little Manhattan” starring a young Josh Hutcherson.
Valerie’s Relationship With Elias
Since Elias was Valerie’s first love, even if she wasn’t his, you could imagine the drama between them and their friend group as Elias explored his feelings with Alex. Thankfully, while you can see Valerie go on her own journey regarding what Elias says and does, this film doesn’t hold malice towards Elias and what he is going through.
Now, does he get a full-on pass for not communicating with Valerie? No. The basis of their relationship was friendship. However, there is an appreciation that she doesn’t further complicate Elias’ journey, despite how you could imagine her wanting to.
On The Fence
The Desire To Question Some Of Alex’s Relationships
For Elias, you understand his friend dynamics, his relationship with Valerie, his father, his mother, and even his brother to a point. However, with Alex, while beyond being a love interest, I would submit that you are left with questions regarding the people he spends time with outside of Elias.
For example, one of the girls in the friend group seem to bond, maybe even like Alex, but it isn’t clear if she is aware he is gay or not. Then, with Alex’s dad, you could submit that Alex’s independence is the reason you don’t see much of their relationship and why his dad focuses more on Alex’s little sister. But, considering the state of Alex’s mom, while it wasn’t expected to see Alex’s dad as much as Elias’, I have to admit I was left wanting to get an idea of Alex’s journey before he moved across the street from Elias. It was not enough to make this another movie that pushed two hours, but some curiosity was left there.
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