Honestly, most queer coming-of-age movies feel like they’re designed to break your heart. You know the drill: the lighting gets moody, someone gets bullied, and by the third act, everyone is crying. But Anthony Schatteman’s Young Hearts (2024) does something different. It’s a Belgian film that actually likes its characters.
If you’ve seen it, or even if you’re just hearing the buzz from the Berlinale or the Iris Prize, you probably think it's just another "boy meets boy" story.
It isn't.
The movie follows 14-year-old Elias, a kid living a pretty standard life in the Flemish countryside. His dad, Luk, is a local lounge singer chasing a tiny bit of fame, and Elias has a "sorta" girlfriend named Valerie. Everything is fine—until Alexander moves in from Brussels. Alexander is confident. He’s worldly. He’s openly into boys. And suddenly, Elias’s world doesn't make sense anymore.
Why Young Hearts 2024 Analysis Hits Different
Most reviews will tell you this is a story about homophobia. They're wrong. In fact, if you watch closely, there’s almost no overt homophobia in the movie. The bullies are sidelined almost immediately. The parents aren't monsters.
The real villain in Young Hearts is the "quiet" pressure of being normal.
Elias isn't running from a hateful community; he’s running from the feeling that he’s "diverging" from the script. Everyone around him sings about first love as if it only happens one way. When Elias shouts at Alexander in a jealous rage—arguably the most uncomfortable scene in the film—it isn’t because he hates Alexander. He hates that he can’t control the chaos inside himself.
The Grandfather: The Real MVP
One of the most moving parts of the film is the relationship between Elias and his grandfather, Fred (played by Dirk van Dijck). While the rest of the family is busy with their own drama—like his dad’s singing career—Fred is the anchor.
- Fred provides the emotional roadmap Elias lacks.
- He shares stories of his late wife, not as a heteronormative "this is how it's done" lesson, but as a "love is love" truth.
- He offers a "safe house" for Elias’s identity to actually breathe.
Schatteman uses this connection to show that queer kids don't necessarily need a "queer mentor." Sometimes they just need an adult who understands that 14-year-old emotions are heavy and real.
Visuals and the "Cozy" Aesthetic
The cinematography by Pieter Van Campe is gorgeous, but not in a "look at me" way. It’s full of soft greens and browns. It feels like summer.
"Even a peck on the cheek from their first love can cause entire universes to explode." — Roger Ebert Review
The film uses close-ups to do the heavy lifting. You see the furrowed brows, the pursed lips, the "is he looking at me?" glances. It’s a slow-burn pace. Some critics say it’s too slow, but if you remember being 14, every minute feels like an hour when you're waiting for a text back.
Addressing the Third Act "Problem"
Is the ending too easy? Maybe.
In the final stretch, Elias reconciles with his friends, his family, and Alexander pretty quickly. Some viewers feel like the "redemption" for characters like his selfish father or his ex-girlfriend Valerie happens too fast.
But here’s the thing: Young Hearts is a fairy tale.
Schatteman has explicitly said in interviews that he wanted to make the film he needed to see as a kid. We have enough movies where the queer kid dies or gets kicked out. We don't have enough movies where a 14-year-old is allowed to be messy, apologize, and then go get the guy. It's a "fantasy of acceptance," and honestly, in 2024, that feels more radical than a tragedy.
Key Takeaways for Viewers
If you're sitting down to watch or analyze this, keep these things in mind:
- Look at the mirrors: Notice how Elias performs "being a boy" at the start versus how he acts when he’s just with Alexander in the abandoned manor.
- Listen to the score: Ruben De Gheselle uses piano for Alexander (sophisticated, melodic) and switches to raw guitar when Elias is spiraling.
- The Rural vs. City Dynamic: Alexander brings "Brussels energy"—self-assurance—into a space that is comfortable but stagnant.
Actionable Insights for Fans and Filmmakers
If you're a fan of coming-of-age cinema or a student of film analysis, don't just watch Young Hearts for the plot.
Analyze how Schatteman uses "incidental" settings. The rural landscape isn't just a pretty backdrop; it's a metaphor for Elias’s isolation. To dig deeper into this genre, compare it to the 2022 film Close. While Close focuses on the trauma of lost friendship, Young Hearts focuses on the joy of finding yourself.
Start by journaling your own "first love" milestones. Notice how many of them were internal battles versus external conflicts. That’s the core of what makes this movie work—it’s 100% about the heart, just like the title says.
