Movie‘Close’ by Lukas Dhont (31) will soon be screened in at least a hundred countries. The film by the Ghent director stole the Grand Prix – the silver medal – at the Cannes film festival on Saturday and that clearly does him no harm.
Lukas has not yet had time to recover from his victory. “Saturday night I finished one interview after the other until half past one, then luckily there was also time to have a drink and a drink. danske place,” he laughs. “However, there was not much partying in it, but of course I’m not going to complain about that. I am especially grateful that I won that ‘Grand Prix’ and that I have been inundated with so many enthusiastic reactions. My cell phone exploded after Saturday night and I have to admit that I haven’t had time to answer all those messages yet. I also received a lot of favorable comments at the festival itself, including from actor Javier Bardem and Alfonso Cuarón (known for ‘Roma’ and Gravity’, ed.), one of my favorite directors. And of course my mother was also very proud. She is the first to give me a camera and she has supported me through thick and thin all the time.”
Surreal
That ‘Close’ – an intimate, but also tragic story about the friendship between two teenage boys – touched a nerve, is also apparent from the massive interest from abroad. The film has already been sold to 100 countries and will therefore be shown in almost all of Europe, the United States and a large part of Asia. “It is quite exceptional that things go so fast after just one screening,” says Dhont. “Normally, such a sales process is a bit more gradual. It’s great that so many people believe in ‘Close’ and are moved by the film.”
After a delayed flight, Dhont set foot on Belgian soil again on Monday evening. “I’m glad I can leave all the hectic behind me for a while,” he says. “I will take the time to rest for the next few days. Tonight I’ll throw my smartphone aside and start cooking. Enjoying the ordinary things, because the past few days have been surreal enough. (laughs)”
If you want to watch ‘Close’, you should go to the Film Fest Gent. Dhont’s second long player opens the 49th edition of the festival on 11 October.
Also read:
PORTRAIT. Lukas Dhont, our prize winner in Cannes: “As a child I had very few friends” (+)
Lukas Dhont wins ‘Grand Prix’ at Cannes festival, Felix Van Groeningen and Charlotte Vandermeersch also win prizes
Free unlimited access to Showbytes? Which can!
Log in or create an account and never miss a thing from the stars.