14-year-old Elias lives a happy, carefree life in a rural Belgian town, surrounded by loving, supportive family and friends. When he meets his new neighbour Alexander, a self-confident boy from Brussels, the two quickly hit it off. But when Alexander reveals that he had a previous romantic relationship with a boy, Elias is overcome with confusing feelings – slowly realising that his feelings for Alexander may be romantic…
As he battles with these new, confusing feelings, Elias struggles to cope. Unwilling to reveal his inner conflict, he acts out and pushes those closest to him away.
A tender and sincere film, based on the director’s own experiences, Young Hearts is a universal coming-of-age story that will resonate with viewers of all ages.
Director: Anthony Schatteman
Starring : Lou Goossens, Marius De Saeger, Geert Van Rampelberg, Emilie De Roo, Dirk van Dijck, Saar Rogiers
“Young Hearts is an authentic coming-of-age tale which enriches the existing body of family films with a wonderful queer love story.”
-Aurore Engelen, Cineuropa
“Young Hearts is not the sort of film that grabs headlines or sets out to scandalize, but the kind that signals the beginning of a sustained career in feature filmmaking.
… [The film] benefits from a sincere and lived-in emotional honesty which serves its aims well.”
-Catherine Bray, Variety
“Writer-director Anthony Schatteman’s assured debut boasts a standout lead performance from Lou Goossens as a 14-year-old boy struggling with self-discovery.”
-David Rooney, The Hollywood Reporter
