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2024

Young Hearts

Australian Premiere.

In this charming film set in the Belgian countryside, young Elias falls in love for the first time when Alexandre moves in next door. Anthony Schatteman’s impressive feature debut about queer romance is a sweet and moving film for everyone.

Director

Anthony Schatteman

Runtime

97 Minutes

Country

Belgium, Netherlands

Classification

All Ages

When Alexandre moves in across the road, young Elias realises that he is falling in love for the first time.

In Anthony Schatteman’s impressive feature debut, this tale of first love is deceptively simple. Shot in the beautiful Belgian countryside, young 14-year-old Elias (Lou Goossens) leads a happy life. His father is a rising pop star, he has a good circle of friends, he helps on his grandfather’s farm, and he enjoys the company of his girlfriend. This is, of course, until the new neighbours move in across the street, and he becomes good friends with Alexandre (Marius De Saeger). Soon, Elias must come to terms with the fact that he is falling in love for the first time. Young Hearts is a sweet film for everyone, free from the trauma that often riddles coming out narratives.

“The glue binding the whole story together is the remarkable Goossens’ Elias, whose silences as much as his raw intensity reveal the turmoil gripping him inside. The boy’s path to understanding himself and his desires will strike chords with anyone who ever struggled with self-acceptance.”

The Hollywood Reporter

“Young Hearts … benefits from a sincere and lived-in emotional honesty which serves its aims well.”

Variety

Berlin International Film Festival, Giffoni Film Festival

Film Credits

Director

Anthony Schatteman

Year

2024

Country

Belgium & Netherlands

Language

Dutch & French

Subtitles

English

Type

Feature & Fiction

Program Strand

AFF Youth & World Cinema

Producer

Xavier Rombaut

Writer

Anthony Schatteman

Cinematographer

Pieter Van Campe

Editor

Emiel Nuninga

Cast

Lou GoossensMarius De SaegerGeert Van RampelbergEmilie De Roo & Dirk Van Dijck

Music

Ruben De Gheselle

Film Source

Films Boutique

Genre

ChildrenComing of AgeDrama & LGBTQIA+

Want to make a school group booking?

Purchase Tickets

Wednesday 30 Oct 2024

10:00 am

Young Hearts

Palace Nova Eastend:

Palace Nova Eastend Cinema 4

Sunday 3 Nov 2024

11:45 am

Young Hearts

Palace Nova Eastend:

Palace Nova Eastend Eximax

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