Young Hearts (2024 film)

Young Hearts (Junge Herzen) is a 2024 coming-of-age drama film written and directed by Anthony Schatteman in his feature directorial debut. The film tells the story of 14-year-old boy Elias, who falls in love with his new neighbour boy Alexander of the same age.

The Belgian-Dutch co-production was selected in the Generation Kplus section at the 74th Berlin International Film Festival, where it had its World premiere on 17 February and compete for Crystal Bear for the Best Film.

Synopsis
Elias, a 14-year-old boy, befriends his new neighbour Alexander, who is also 14. Alexander is a confident and headstrong boy from Brussels. They get along well. Alexander tells Elias he likes boys and asks him about his love life. Elias has feelings for Alexander but hides them. He is scared of what others might think and lies to everyone. He ends up pushing Alexander away and feels lonely. But when his grandfather tells him how much he loved his late wife, Elias understands that love is too important to lose. He decides to do something to get Alexander back...

Cast

 * Lou Goossens as Elias
 * Marius De Saeger as Alexander
 * Geert Van Rampelberg as Luk
 * Emilie De Roo as Nathalie
 * Dirk Van Dijck as Fred

Production
The feature debut of Anthony Schatteman has Lou Goossens and Marius De Saeger in the main role, with Geert Van Rampelberg, Emilie De Roo and Dirk Van Dyck playing pivotal roles. The film is produced by Polar Bear, in co-production with the Belgian Kwassa Films and the Dutch Family Affair Films.

Release
Young Hearts had its World premiere on 17 February 2024, as part of the 74th Berlin International Film Festival, in Generation Kplus. It was also screened at 2024 Cannes Film Festival in Cannes Écrans Juniors section on 22 May 2024. It had its Canadian premiere at the Inside Out Film and Video Festival on 28 May 2024 in Centrepiece Gala.

It also featured in the International Competition of Feature Films in the junior category on 2 June 2024 in the 64th edition of the Zlín Film Festival, also known as the International Film Festival for Children and Youth held in the Czech Republic.

The film is expected to be released in Belgian cinemas in the autumn of 2024 by Kinepolis Film Distribution.

Reception
Aurore Engelen reviewing the film at Berlinale for Cineuropa wrote, "Young Hearts is an authentic coming-of-age tale which enriches the existing body of family films with a wonderful queer love story."

Catherine Bray writing in Variety praised Lou Goossens, for being "naturalistic and able to convey subtle shades of inner turmoil, despite his young age." Praising director Anthony Schatteman for his direction wrote, "his direction feels calm and quietly confident in ways that is not always the case with a debut." Concluding her review she opined, "Young Hearts, while gentler and less obviously tear-jerking, benefits from a sincere and lived-in emotional honesty which serves its aims well."

Hayley Croke reviewing at Berlinale in Loud And Clear Reviews awarded 3.5 stars and wrote, "Young Hearts, beautifully encapsulates the feelings of having your first love in its entirety." Croke concluded, "While a love story, Young Hearts really is a story about coming into yourself as a young person and the decisions you have to make in the quest to find who you are."

Amber Wilkinson reviewing at Berlinale in Eye For Film awarded 3.5 stars and wrote, "This coming-of-age drama gently probes the insecurities experienced by a teenager as he explores his sexuality."Wilkinson opined, "It may be a little sentimental at the edges, but the heart of Anthony Schatteman’s film is in the right place."

Laslo Rojas Contreras reviewing at Berlinale in Cinencuentro wrote, "Young Hearts is a film that offers a positive perspective on gay relationships, and tries to challenge the stereotypes and prejudices that still exist within society, yet perhaps in a way that is too light for the current times."

Alexa Dalby reviewing at Berlinale in Dog and Wolf rated the film with three stars and wrote, "The boys’ performances are outstanding." Concluding Dalby wonders, "how much the film is influenced by 1976 disco song "Young Hearts Run Free" by Candi Staton?"

Accolades
The film was selected in Generation Kplus at the 74th Berlin International Film Festival, thus it was nominated to compete for the Crystal Bear.