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Close to Leo (TV) More at IMDbPro »Tout contre Léo (original title)
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| Index | 12 reviews in total |
12 out of 14 people found the following review useful:
Touching in its simplicity, 31 August 2004
Author:
remic from California
It was very heart-warming. As an expatriated french, I particularly
enjoyed this "TV" movie, which I think deserves a broader distribution.
The acting was good, and the bonds between each member of this rural
French family seemed so
strong and so natural. No doubt a great movie about the concept of
family and inclusion in the face of homosexuality and AIDS. One of the
strongest aspect of the movie is this privileged relationship between
the eldest son (Leo), who has contracted HIV, and the youngest son
(Marcel), to whom the rest of the family try to hide the situation. The
two characters
progressively explore each other as time runs out for Leo, who is not
willing to spend the rest of his life surviving under drugs...
12 out of 18 people found the following review useful:
Tender and wonderfully real, 25 October 2004
Author:
Howard Schumann from Vancouver, B.C.
It is projected that between 2000 and 2020, 68 million people will die
prematurely as a result of AIDS. The projected toll is greatest in
sub-Saharan Africa where 55 million additional deaths can be expected.
Beyond the grim statistics are personal stories that we rarely hear
about. Christophe Honoré describes one of the most moving in Close to
Leo, a film produced for French television as part of a series dealing
with issues facing young people. Though fictional, it deals with a
situation that is unfortunately too common -- the effect of a diagnosis
of HIV on a loving close-knit family.
When twenty one-year old Leo (Pierre Mignard) tells his parents and two
teenage brothers, Tristan (Rodolphe Pauley) and Pierrot (Jeremie
Lippmann) that he has AIDS, the family is devastated. Out of concern
for his youth, they decide to withhold the information from his
youngest brother, 12-year old Marcel (Yannis Lespert) but he overhears
the conversation and begins to sulk and act erratically. When Leo goes
to Paris for treatment, he takes Marcel with him but the young boy
confronts Leo and demands to know the truth. Leo tells him that he is
ill and Marcel is sad but accepting. When he brings Marcel along to
meet some former gay friends, however, tension between them boils to
the surface, setting the stage for a riveting conclusion.
Although I was uncomfortable with scenes in bed involving physical
contact between the brothers, I feel that the sincerity of Close to Leo
and the brilliant performances by Lespert and Mignard more than tip the
scales in its favor. Seeing events unfold from the young boy's
perspective gives the film an authenticity that reminded me of the
Quebecois film Leolo and Truffaut's The 400 Blows. Unlike some American
films that dance around the anguish of AIDS, Close to Leo tells a harsh
truth but does so in a way that is tender and wonderfully real.
7 out of 10 people found the following review useful:
Excellent french COA movie, 22 March 2007
Author:
ninoguapo from Middle of Nowhere
This movie was for a while in my collection, but it wasn't before a
friend of mine reminded me about it – until I decided that I should
watch it. I did not know much about Close to Leo – just that it was
supposed to be excellent coming out of age movie and it deals with a
very serious topic – Aids.
Although the person who has aids – is Leo – the scenario wraps around
the way in which Marcel (the youngest brother of Leo) coupes with the
sickness of his relative. At first everyone is trying to hide the truth
from Marcel – he is believed to be too young to understand the sickness
of his brother – the fact that Leo is also a homosexual contributes to
the unwillingness of the parents to discus the matter with the young
Marcel. I know from experience that on many occasions most older people
do not want to accept the fact that sometimes even when someone is
young this does not automatically means that he will not be able to
accept the reality and act in more adequate manner then even themselves
. With exception of the fact that the family tried to conceal the truth
from Marcel, they have left quite an impression for me – the way they
supported their son – even after discovering the truth about his
sexuality and his sickness. The fact that they allowed the young Marcel
to travel along with Leo to Paris to meet his ex boyfriend was quite a
gesture from them– most families I know will be reluctant to do that.
There is a lot of warmth in the scenes in which the brothers spend some
time together – you can see them being real friends , concern about
each other.
Close to Leo is an excellent drama, which I strongly recommend
8 out of 12 people found the following review useful:
Devastating news, 23 January 2006
Author:
jotix100 from New York
This film made for French TV deals with the tragic effect it has for a
close knit family. When Leo, the young man at the center of the story
is diagnosed as having the AIDS virus, announces it to his parents,
they just can't believe it. The film is a character study on how this
family deals with its subject.
The director, Christophe Honore, has to be congratulated for bringing
this frank account to the screen. Nowhere but in France could this
story make it to the movies because of the subject matter.
The news has a devastating effect on Marcel, the young brother who
hears about what Leo has contracted, in spite of the way the parents
want to shelter him from reality.
Yaniss Lespart and Pierre Mignard do a convincing job in portraying the
brothers.
3 out of 4 people found the following review useful:
Touching look at a family dealing with a crisis, 20 October 2003
Author:
Havan_IronOak from NYC/FL
I found this film to be a fascinating study of a family in crisis. When
Leo,
the oldest announces that he is HIV+ the reactions of the family members
alone and with each other was touching and yet strange.
I have never seen a family that was as physically demonstrative as this
one;
nor one as likely to shout at each other. I didn't understand why the
family
felt that youngest couldn't deal with the news but once past that
difficult
I found this a thoroughly moving film.
5 out of 8 people found the following review useful:
Another Flawed Writer/Director Gay Themed Film Project, 11 July 2009
Author:
Franco-LA from United States
*** This review may contain spoilers ***
This is an interesting movie that reflects the elements of being a
non-US release, and it has many nice moments, including moments of
great bonding between the father and his sons, and between the
brothers. However, the movie is marred by some very obvious and frankly
trite interludes, such as the death of the chicken, the lengthy episode
with Ivan and Marcel, some of the Paris scenes (while some were loverly
moments, others just felt like they padded the film out - such as the
bench scene, the sexual interlude at the hotel lobby with the desk
clerk), etc. They don't add to the film and the detract from the
narrative and mar the message (and frankly also help to muddy matters).
If the movie was overlong and narratively dense, it would be one thing,
but the movie is very short and much of it jumps, without explanation.
If the movie were merely an exposition of family life, it would be one
thing. But it's not -- that's merely one element.
Another thing that hurts the film is the fact that a 1996 book (that
likely was written somewhat earlier than that) that finally got made
into a made for TV movie released some six years later (and despite
some of the praise on here, the film does feel very much like a
well-made and well-intentioned but filmed teleplay nonetheless), the
notable thing about Close to Leo is how dated it is in its approach to
an HIV diagnosis or to a drug cocktail (15 pills? No one is taking 15
pills as a first line HIV therapy in this decade, and certainly not in
France in 2002). While the family may have been a provincial one, even
in 1996, an HIV diagnosis was not a death sentence and certainly in
2002 it was definitely not one. While plenty still die from HIV and
others do not want to take a drug cocktail, nothing is done to
establish any real or genuine basis for the perceived ending of this
film.
The other flaw of the film is the limited (and in some respects
conflicted - such as her sudden desire to have sex with the father
immediately after he consoles Marcel over the slap at the dinner table)
role the mother is given. Some of what the actress is forced to do is
absurd, such as the wearing of the burgundy (or perhaps it was intended
to be blood red) dress without shoes and her collapse in the garden.
This is a typical problem with a writer director film, particularly
unfortunate as this happens with their first film and this is at least
his second film, depending on when they were produced and shot, versus
the release date.
Watchable but not worthy of some of the comments on here or it's
current higher score. Not as bad as some of the negative comments, just
deeply and unfortunately flawed.
8 out of 14 people found the following review useful:
A movie that centres on the relationship between a young man HIV+ and his family, 1 August 2004
Author:
CENTREMETRE from TORONTO, CANADA
I loved this movie. First, because it is a family movie. Second, because it offers a refreshing take on dealing with the news of HIV in a family, with far less hysteria than what I have normally seen in the movies. The brothers are very close, yet are not judgmental. Their desire to protect the youngest brother is noble, but not needed in the end. I understand that Leo's choice on how to deal with his treatment may not have been the most popular one with people, but I believed it was the right choice for him. I can't believe that this was a french television programme. It had great production values. I gave this movie a ten, and I think you will too, once you have seen it.
1 out of 1 people found the following review useful:
How Would WE?, 9 October 2011
Author:
thomasdosborneii from United States
How DOES a person react to the news that they have HIV and how does
their family act? In fact, how do we think WE would act? Well,
regarding that second question, I honestly don't have the slightest
idea and fortunately, haven't had to find out. But I am guessing that
it would involve a vast variety of conflicting and changeable emotions
and behaviors, both rational and irrational, as was expressed here in
this, what I can only believe is a very realistic film...because each
individual and family may have their own responses. I think all
emotional responses and behaviors are realistic and justified under the
circumstances, even some that might generate distaste among some
viewers of this film. A family, with its shock, fear, grief, and shame,
if they feel those emotions, may decide to protect whom they believe is
a more vulnerable member of the family. Then they may decide that that
was the wrong tack to follow. Or maybe not. Who knows WHAT to do,
really? Sometimes paralysis is bound to take over to the extent of
collapsing into semi-catatonia, or maybe the opposite, such as running
wildly toward a futile sense of escape. Any and everything may happen,
and all are valid.
Isn't it realistic that one so stricken might want to reach out to
people who had held meaning in the past, but not really have any idea
how to go about that in a prudent way? Or maybe there will be feelings
of hatred or envy of those who are able to peacefully go through the
normalcy of their lives, because they do not have this issue to
suddenly contend with. Maybe one might for a moment become utterly
irresponsible and uncaring, or self-destructive, for in the face of
death, or certain pain and anguish, what of any shreds of a former
morality may seem to truly matter?
I believe that this film accurately explores the potential universe of
reactions in a powerfully communicative way. This maybe made the
"narrative story" jerky or uncomfortable to watch or understand, but if
so, welcome to THEIR world.
I don't believe that the makers of this film believe that this film, or
any other, shows the definitive way things will happen under these
circumstances. I think they know more than that...that they know that
we all DON'T know and all bets are off, but in their work, here, they
are going to explore and have the viewer live some of the
possibilities. And I felt that as a viewer, they were very successful.
I couldn't help but feel throughout this movie, things maybe I didn't
want to feel, but I then I shouldn't watch a movie like this if I
wanted to be protected. We all knew going into it what the subject
matter was.
One thing that I thoroughly appreciated about the film was the physical
affection and body contact among the various family members that seemed
to disturb the sensibilities of some reviewers, when it is so clear to
me that one valid reaction might be the family's desire (either being
satisfied in actuality or else communicated metaphorically via the
visual language of film) to utterly ABSORB every precious square inch
of not only the body of the loved one that is soon to be falling apart,
possibly into nothingness, but also those suddenly even-more-
precious-than-ever-before who will remain after the one so stricken has
gone, all of whom will have to live with this shared loss for the rest
of their lives. And for the one stricken, to connect with the sweet
human flesh of those whom he loves while he still can effect such a
connection, I submit that the most fundamental and reliable
communication of all may be through touch and the body, for the
emotions and the intellect would be too much in a typhoon to be
constant.
4 out of 7 people found the following review useful:
very moving, 7 January 2005
Author:
bbuudd403 from milw wi
*** This review may contain spoilers ***
I saw this movie about a week ago and still keep thinking about it. I
was very moved by this movie. I found the characters very believable
and likable almost to a fault. As in real life though sometimes people
disappoint, as was the case with Leo, who even though I liked his
character I could not have been more disappointed when he was willing
to have unprotected sex even though fully aware of his HIV status. I
was also disappointed with Leo for rejecting the medicine available to
him, and the awful way he treated Marcel when he decided to ship him
back home on the train. I think this movie showed in a very real way
why HIV numbers are up in young gay men. This is in no way meant to
bash gays (I am gay) and movie very well could have been made about a
young straight person who makes bad choices and seems unaware of the
consequences to himself and others. The only part of the movie I
couldn't understand was why the (gay friendly) family was unwilling to
include Marcel in Leo's illness to the point of not allowing him to go
to the funeral.
I think the biggest message from this movie is that whether gay or
straight is DO NOT HAVE UNPROTECTED SEX!
6 out of 12 people found the following review useful:
irresponsible and unbelievable, 22 March 2007
Author:
pogostiks from France
*** This review may contain spoilers ***
THIS CONTAINS SPOILERS.
I have rarely seen a film that is as unbelievable as this one is. And
being French, it tries for depth by being enigmatic… nothing really
makes any sense.
Léo is gay and has just announced at breakfast to his family that he is
HIV positive. The youngest brother, Marcel, has not yet come down to
breakfast, and the first thing the family does is decide that at 12
years of age he is too young to be told. Maybe if he was four or five,
but twelve? The first totally unbelievable thing is that the family
doesn't even ask where or how he got the virus, how long he has known
about it… nothing is asked. They only worry about Marcel finding out.
This is a very close –knit provincial family, but although they decide
not to let Marcel know about Léo's HIV positive status nor the fact of
his being gay, the rest of the family accepts all this news with
absolutely no questions or reactions. How many families do you know
where the parents/brothers wouldn't have at least SOME reaction to one
of the members announcing that he is gay? Here, nothing.
Léo decides that he needs to go to Paris to see his ex-lover. And he
decides to go on the trip with, of all people, Marcel. Do you know
anyone who would bring his little brother along to go see a lover?
Again, totally unbelievable, especially since Marcel is not supposed to
know either of his medical problems nor of his homosexuality. If this
is the way the family has decided to let him find out, it is rather
brutal and again unbelievable.
Léo goes to find his lover, Aymeric, at his work in a Paris bar. The
owner says that Aymeric will not be there until the early evening. But
why would Léo want to see him at work? Why not phone and arrange to see
him in some place more private where they can really talk? Why not go
and see him at his home? But no, Léo shows up later in the day (with
Marcel in tow) and is surprised when Aymeric doesn't just drop
everything to go walk with him for 5 minutes. Aymeric tells him that he
is no longer available, that it was Léo who left him, and that Léo
hadn't replied to any of his letters. Léo says "But I love you" and
then wanders off. But if he really loved Aymeric, wouldn't he have at
least told him about his HIV status, to warn him to get tested and
maybe get medication? This would be the least he could do – but not a
peep. He leaves and doesn't even warn Aymeric that he might have
contracted the AIDS virus. This is totally irresponsible of him – and
of the film-makers; this film was apparently made for a French TV
series for young people – it is the perfect way to show kids how to be
responsible. Well, not here… I guess "Every man for himself" is still
the French way of doing things… Another aspect of the film which was
totally unbelievable was the "touchy-feely" aspect. Everyone is always
leaning against someone, caressing someone or kissing someone. Inside
the family and outside the family. I have never seen anyone in France
be THIS physical, never mind an entire family. Seated at the breakfast
table, one 17 year old brother has his leg perched on the lap of his
elder brother, and the elder brother is caressing his leg as everyone
sits around discussing something. How many brothers do you know who are
THAT physically close? In another scene, the same 17 year old comes
into Marcel's room asking "What's the matter, can't you sleep?", then
takes off his clothes and, completely naked, gets into bed with his
brother and snuggles up to him as if they were lovers. This and another
similar scene between Léo and Marcel gave a somewhat incestuous feel to
the film. Sorry, again I don't believe that this is regular behaviour
between teenage brothers.
The only good thing I can say about the film is that the actors are all
quite fine… especially Marcel in the main role. But it wasn't really
enough… HIV and AIDS are far too serious to be presented in such a
vague and irresponsible light. At the end of the film, the family has
gone to the cemetery to bury Léo, but once again, Marcel has been left
out of it – he has been left in the care of a cousin (I think).
Nevertheless he sneaks out and watches the funeral from afar. Is this
what such a close-knit family would have done? It is totally
inconceivable that they would not have included him in his brother's
funeral. It was the last scene of the film, and it was the last straw
for this viewer.
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