# Young Hearts (2024 film)

Young Hearts 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, a boy of the same age named Alexander.
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 competed for Crystal Bear for the Best Film.

## Sypnosis

Elias, a 14-year-old from the Belgian countryside, forms a friendship with his new neighbor, Alexander, a confident and headstrong boy from Brussels. As the two grow closer, Alexander reveals that he was in love with a boy and asks Elias if he has experienced true love, a question that lingers in his mind.
For the first time, Elias begins to understand the depth of his feelings as he starts to fall in love with Alexander. However, overwhelmed by fear of judgment and rejection, Elias denies his emotions, distancing himself from his friends, family, and Alexander to hide his truth. Consumed by loneliness and regret, Elias struggles with the weight of his decisions.
A heartfelt conversation with his grandfather, who shares a story of his enduring love for his late wife, inspires Elias to confront his fears. Realizing that love is too precious to let slip away, he gathers the courage to reconcile with Alexander, taking a brave step toward embracing his feelings and the possibility of love.

## Cast

* Lou Goossens as Elias
* Marius De Saeger as Alexander
* Geert Van Rampelberg as Luk (Elias' father)
* Emilie De Roo as Nathalie (Elias' mother)
* Dirk Van Dijck as Fred (Elias' grandfather)
* Saar Rogiers as Valerie (Alexander's friend and Elias' girlfriend/friend)
* Jul Goossens as Maxime (Elias' brother)
* Wim Opbrouck as Uncle Tony (Alexander's uncle)
* Florence Hebbelynck as Aunt Pia (Alexander's aunt)
* Olivier Englebert as Marc (Alexander's father)
* LaDiva Live as La Diva (drag singer in Brussels )

## Production

Young Hearts is the debut directing feature film for Anthony Schatteman featuring Lou Goossens and Marius De Saeger in the main roles, with Geert Van Rampelberg, Emilie De Roo, and Dirk Van Dyck playing pivotal supporting roles. The film is produced by Polar Bear, in co-production with the Belgian Kwassa Films and the Dutch Family Affair Films.
The development of the film began in 2019 and spanned four years. Production of the film was first announced by Anthony Schatteman in a Facebook post on 31 May 2022. The production team spent six months scouting suitable filming locations. Open casting calls began on 20 September 2022, focusing on filling the main roles with boys aged 11 to 18. Director Anthony Schatteman, alongside his best friend and the film's Children’s Coach, Oliver Roels, reviewed over 1,500 auditions. Marius De Saeger was the first actor cast, as his personality and personal life closely aligned with the character of Alexander. Lou Goossens was later selected for the role of Elias, chosen for his natural connection with De Saeger and the parallels between his personal life and that of the character. Filming commenced in August 2023 and was completed over a span of 28 days.
The film's narrative draws heavily from Schatteman's own youth and personal experiences. In an interview with the Teddy Award, he described it as the film he "needed or wanted to see" during his adolescence. Schatteman aimed to create a universal coming-of-age story that could resonate with viewers of all ages. He emphasized the film’s focus on romance, drawing inspiration from his own life, and its intent to evoke strong emotions. The story centers on themes of identity, self-discovery, and the struggles of growing up.

## 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 50th Seattle International Film Festival in May 2024 and 77th 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 competed for Iris Prize Best Feature Award in Iris Prize and was screened on 10 October 2024.
The film was released in Belgian cinemas on 18 December 2024 by Kinepolis Film Distribution. The film was released in Dutch cinemas on 19 December 2024. The film is anticipated to premiere globally in early 2025.

## Reception

On the review aggregator website Rotten Tomatoes, 100% of 13 critics' reviews are positive, with an average rating of 7.4/10.
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?"
Beatrice Loayza, writing in The New York Times wrote "Young Hearts” is a more wholesome, and ultimately more cliché, endeavor. In the end, teenage brooding gives way to a sparkling fairy tale finale that shows that there was nothing for Elias to worry about, after all."
Gary M. Kramer, reviewing the film for Gay City News, lavished praise on the performances of Goossens and De Saeger, writing, "Goossens carries the film, effortlessly, and he is well matched by De Saeger, who is appropriately more relaxed and comfortable in his own skin as Alexander. De Saeger’s responses to Elias’ discomfort are real, and it creates a real investment for viewers to want the boys to end up together."
Diego Semerene, of Slant Magazine, awarded the film 3 out 4 stars, writing, "Tenderly observed, writer-director Anthony Schatteman’s film offers the rare opportunity to indulge in a fantasy where the risks of queer love going public are anodyne, even negligible, while also leaving room for a casual critique of what we could perhaps call Nordic parenting, where children enjoy so much autonomy but are also left to their own devices."
Robert Daniels of RogerEbert.com also gave the film 3 out of 4 stars and praised Schatteman's direction, writing, "Schattenman trusts his young leads, often allowing his gentle lens to linger on their faces as new thoughts, feelings, and passions bubble to the surface."

## 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.
| Award | Date | Category | Recipient | Result |
| Berlin International Film Festival | 25 February 2024 | Children's Jury Generation Kplus:Special Mention | Anthony Schatteman | Won |
| Berlin International Film Festival | 25 February 2024 | Teddy Award for Best Feature Film | Anthony Schatteman | Nominated |
| Freiburg Gay Film Festival | 8 May 2024 | 2024 Audience Award | Anthony Schatteman | Won |
| Seattle International Film Festival | 19 May 2024 | SIFF 2024 New Directors Competition: Special Jury Mention | Anthony Schatteman | Won |
| Seattle International Film Festival | 19 May 2024 | SIFF 2024 Futurewave Feature | Anthony Schatteman | Nominated |
| Cannes Film Festival | 24 May 2024 | Cannes Écrans Juniors Award for Middle Schoolers | Anthony Schatteman | Won |
| Inside Out Film and Video Festival | 1 June 2024 | Outstanding Performance | Lou Goossens | Won |
| Zlín Film Festival | 5 June 2024 | Golden Slippers Award for Best Feature Film for Teenagers | Anthony Schatteman | Won |
| Zlín Film Festival | 5 June 2024 | Golden Apple Award for Audience's Choice | Anthony Schatteman | Won |
| Connecticut LGBTQ Film Festival | 3 July 2024 | Director's Award | Anthony Schatteman | Won |
| Les Ciné-Rencontres de Prades Festival | 25 July 2024 | The Sólveig Anspach Audience Award | Anthony Schatteman | Won |
| Long Beach QFilm Festival | 12 September 2024 | Best Feature | Anthony Schatteman | Won |
| Long Beach QFilm Festival | 12 September 2024 | Best Performance | Lou Goossens | Won |
| FilmOut San Diego | 26 September 2024 | Best International Feature | Anthony Schatteman | Won |
| FilmOut San Diego | 26 September 2024 | Outstanding Emerging Talent | Lou Goossens | Won |
| Oslo/Fusion International Film Festival | 30 September 2024 | Best Narrative Feature | Anthony Schatteman | Won |
| Out on Film | 7 October 2024 | Jury Award Best Narrative Feature | Anthony Schatteman | Won |
| Out on Film | 7 October 2024 | Jury Award Best First Feature | Anthony Schatteman | Won |
| Out on Film | 7 October 2024 | Audience Award Best Feature | Anthony Schatteman | Nominated |
| Out on Film | 7 October 2024 | Audience Award Best Feature Runner-Up | Anthony Schatteman | Won |
| OUT at the Movies International Film Festival | 9 October 2024 | Audience Award Winner for Best Narrative Feature | Anthony Schatteman | Won |
| OUT at the Movies International Film Festival | 9 October 2024 | Jury Award Winner for Best Narrative Feature | Anthony Schatteman | Won |
| OUT at the Movies International Film Festival | 9 October 2024 | Jury Award Winner for Best Performance in a Leading Role | Lou Goossens | Won |
| Junges Film Festival Köln/Cinepänz | 12 October 2024 | Teen Jury for Best Film | Anthony Schatteman | Won |
| Iris Prize | 19 October 2024 | Iris Prize Best Feature Award | Anthony Schatteman | Won |
| Iris Prize | 19 October 2024 | Best Performance in a Male Role | Lou Goossens | Won |
| Reeling: The Chicago LGBTQ+ International Film Festival | 22 October 2024 | Jury Award for Best Narrative Feature | Anthony Schatteman | Nominated |
| Reeling: The Chicago LGBTQ+ International Film Festival | 22 October 2024 | Audience Award for Best Narrative Feature | Anthony Schatteman | Won |
| New York Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, & Transgender Film Festival | 25 October 2024 | Best International Feature | Anthony Schatteman | Nominated |
| New York Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, & Transgender Film Festival | 25 October 2024 | Performance Special Mention | Lou Goossens | Won |
| Montclair Film Festival | 27 October 2024 | Audience Awards World Cinema | Young Hearts | Won |
| Ale Kino! International Young Audience Film Festival | 2 December 2024 | ECFA Award for the Best Feature-Length Film for Children | Anthony Schatteman | Won |
| Magritte Awards | 22 February 2025 | Most Promising Actor | Lou Goossens | Nominated |
| Magritte Awards | 22 February 2025 | Best Flemish Film | Young Hearts | Nominated |
| Luxembourg City Film Festival | 16 March 2025 | Special Mention | Young Hearts | Won |