Young Hearts
Movie Details:
| German title | Junge Herzen |
| Country | Belgium, Netherlands |
| Language | Dutch, French |
| Genre | Drama, Family |
| Release date | February 17, 2024 (Berlin International Film Festival) May 13, 2024 (Seattle International Film Festival) June 16, 2024 (Provincetown International Film Festival) October 10, 2024 (Germany) December 18, 2024 (Belgium) |
| Running time | 1hr 37min |
| Starring | Lou Goossens Marius De Saeger |
| Directed by | Anthony Schatteman |
| Written by | Anthony Schatteman |
| Produced by | Xavier Rombaut Floor Onrust Annabella Nezri |
| Cinematography by | Pieter Van Campe |
| Edited by | Emiel Nuninga |
| Music by | Ruben De Gheselle |
| Production Company | Polar Bear Family Affair Films Kwassa Films |
| Distributor | Kinepolis Film Distribution |
Cast & Characters:
- Lou Goossens as Elias
- Marius De Saeger as Alexander
- Geert Van Rampelberg as Luk
- Emilie De Roo as Nathalie
- Dirk van Dijck as Fred
- Saar Rogiers as Valerie
- Ezra Van Dongen as Line
- Jul Goossens as Maxime
- Olivier Englebert as Marc
- Wim Opbrouck as Uncle Tony
- Florence Hebbelynck as Aunt Pia
- Jill Malfroot as Lukas
- Cassie Alcendor as Lize
- Samba Thiam as Matteo
- Sam Michiels as Mieke
- Marie Gevaert as Lore
- Bert Dobbelaere as Teacher / Mister Van Daele
- Stephen Harrison as PE teacher
Storyline:
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…
About Movie:
Young Hearts (German: Junge Herzen) is a coming-of-age drama film written and directed by Anthony Schatteman in his feature directorial debut. It stars Lou Goossens and Marius De Saeger.
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.
It was also screened at the 50th Seattle International Film Festival in May, the 77th Cannes Film Festival’s Cannes Écrans Juniors section on May 22, and the Inside Out Film and Video Festival in Canada on May 28. The film competed in the junior category at the Zlín Film Festival in June and for the Iris Prize Best Feature Award in October.
Young Hearts was released in Belgian cinemas on 18 December 2024 by Kinepolis Film Distribution.
