Elliot Page"s Struggle in Transgender Drama Close to You
- The film features Sam, a transgender man, returning to his family in Ontario after a long absence.
- It explores the difficulties he faces as his family struggles to understand his transition.
- Despite its intentions, the film is criticized for its lifeless execution and lack of depth.
In Dominic Savage's film, a transgender man named Sam, portrayed by Elliot Page, returns to his family in small-town Ontario after a long absence. The narrative focuses on the challenges he faces as his family struggles to comprehend his transition, despite their good intentions. The film attempts to delve into Sam's emotional turmoil, highlighting the complexities of familial relationships in the context of gender identity. However, the execution feels lacking, with a sense of repetitiveness and a reliance on improvisation that detracts from the overall impact. A subplot involving Sam's connection with his former schoolfriend, Katherine, adds another layer to the story. Katherine, now married, serves as a reminder of Sam's past and the relationships that have been affected by his transition. This aspect of the film aims to explore themes of love and longing, yet it feels somewhat forced and underdeveloped. Despite the film being a passion project for Page, his performance has been criticized for lacking vitality, which may contribute to the film's overall underwhelming reception. The film's intentions are clear, but the execution leaves much to be desired, resulting in a narrative that feels flat and unengaging. Ultimately, while the film addresses important themes surrounding transgender experiences and family dynamics, it struggles to resonate with audiences due to its uneven pacing and lack of depth in character development.