Young Hearts - SIFF [2024]

Young Hearts [2024]

Film

This film was viewed at the 50th Seattle International Film Festival

Love, what an easily understandable emotion right? You lock eyes with someone across the room while George Michael's "Careless Whisper" carries you both to the center of the room. "Funny how in a room full of people you can feel so alone" mourns one of you. Then, a kiss, fireworks, marriage, kids, mid-life crisis sports car, retirement (if you're lucky), and finally adjacent plots at the cemetery.

Piece of cake right?

In reality, only Elias' (Lou Goossens) father Luk (Geert Van Rampelberg) feels that way. As a singer who finally catches his break with his smash single about first love in Anthony Schatteman's gorgeous coming-of-age Young Hearts, Luk is in essence, an artifact of the older generation. When times were simpler, emotions weren't complex and drove people to create formulaic pop singles with no substance. I won't deny the fact that "First Love" is an absolute banger, but love isn't all that clear-cut for Elias. While dating, it might just be "hanging out"--I'm detached from what the youths call it these days--Valerie (Saar Rogiers), Elias has a new neighbor who moved in across the street. A boy his age, Alexander (Marius De Saeger) clearly causes Elias to feel butterflies, just like his dad sings about.

But Schatteman's story isn't as simple as that. In his young naïveté, Elias has no clue how to deal with his emotions. He's in a relationship with Valerie but harbors feelings for Alexander. Here lies the heart (pun intended) of Young Hearts. A gentle, sweeping romance about a young boy's understanding of his feelings without the cliche of outside influences. While his father, Luk, is a symbol of the old guard in terms of emotional comprehension, he never actively acts against his son's best interests. There's no outward homophobia from extraneous characters, save for some bullies in Elias' high school, instead the conflict is an inward journey of self-understanding, and with it, self-acceptance.

Young Hearts [2024]

Elias' poor comprehension of his feelings isn't a completely new plot-line for a film such as Young Hearts, but Goossens' performance turns any tired trope into an excellent piece of maturing in the modern age. His restrained emotion carefully carries Elias' hardships, showcasing his internal conflict of the heart, while the rare outburst is finely focused and superbly delivered. Not to mention Schatteman's thorough story and direction include enough in the peripheries to round out Elias. He is a talented young artist who can express himself exquisitely with pictures, whereas his father can do so in song. A fantastic layering of being able to express yourself with words compared to Elias' inability, but not due to any lack of emotion. Throw in Dirk van Dijck's performance as Elias' grandfather, Fred, along with their heartwarming chemistry and you've got a stupendous backbone for the ethos of the film. All of this culminates in a monologue from Fred to Elias on the nature of love and the hardships involved akin to Michael Stuhlbarg in Call Me By Your Name.

Schatteman's Young Hearts never feels like a copy of its predecessors, the multitude of coming-of-age films focused on first love. Instead it finds ways to wriggle free from the mold and defy expectations, starting with Goossens' stellar performance, a lovely story, where a score of beautiful melodic strings floats between the peaks and troughs of Elias' journey of self-discovery.

Froth

Young Hearts is an absolute delight. A cute, warm, fuzzy concoction of cinematic heart-warming introspection that leaves no eyes dry in the theater. A light-hearted story that somehow mixes in the confusion of modern-age love while remaining true to its characters is a rarity. There's no need for anything heavy when watching this film and certainly no need for anything dark. The only appropriate pairing has to be Happy Little Clouds from Cloudburst Brewing. This award-winning pilsner is as light, tasty, and refreshing as any beer could be. A mix of German and American hops along with some pilsner malt make a damn fine balanced brew, which is nothing short of the norm at Cloudburst Brewing if you ask me.

Don't believe me? Well then check out this immaculate review from Craft Beer and Brewing.