Young Hearts (12A)

A tender, disarming account of first love and the struggles of teenage self-discovery, Young Hearts features an extraordinary lead performance from newcomer Lou Goossens.

In the middle of the school year, 14-year-old Elias (Goossens) befriends and becomes attracted to his headstrong new neighbour Alexander (Marius De Saeger), but confused and afraid of the reactions of those around him, he keeps his burgeoning romantic feelings to himself. Entangled in a web of lies, he no longer knows how to extricate himself from his predicament – apart from pushing Alexander away.

Sincere and tender, shot on location in a bucolic rural Netherlands bathed in a golden summer glow, Young Hearts doesn’t shy away from the turmoil of self-actualisation but is also a story of queer positivity and what it means to come out in a supportive environment.