‘Young Hearts’ (2025) – A New Summer Flick About Love

They say, “Be the change you want to see in the world,” and that’s what director Anthony Schatteman is doing with Young Hearts, the film he wanted to see while growing up, a kid unsure about his sexuality. He creates a world where two boys fall in love and come of age in the beautiful countryside and with it, opens the door in front of many queer kids to find acceptance and feel comfortable in their budding love stories without the complicated coming-out narratives that hover like a dark cloud over movies in the same genre.

The film tells the story of Elias, a 14-year-old with a loving family who falls in love with the 14-year-old son of the new neighbors, Alexander. While Elias is still figuring out a lot of things about himself, including breaking out of his shell, Alexander is more free-spirited and in tune with his sexuality and place in the world. Their contrast is not stark but their complementary personalities are what make this movie a compelling piece, something to stay with till the end. 

Tensions arise when Elias faces himself. Unlike Alexander’s openness, Elias is not that honest with his feelings, and his love story with Alexander comes as a storm that turns his world upside down. This is evident in the character’s more complicated journey, as opposed to Alexander’s which seems like a paved road without bumps or grooves. Schatteman excels at handling the young lovers’ delicate and raw feelings by allowing his child characters the liberty of fumbling and lightheartedness usually associated with kids their age. He carefully strips away the wisdom that similar films place on protagonists of the same age, making the narrative ridiculous and unbelievable. 

The only problem with the film is its length. Had it been more condensed, it would’ve reached perfection. But apart from the runtime, every element is precisely where it should be. The camera work masterfully frames the young boys, using close-ups to highlight the sensitivity of the situation and long, wide shots to showcase them as part of the bigger canvas of nature where their love blossoms. 

The movie won’t be complete without praising the young actors Lou Goossens and Marius De Saeger. These two fresh-faced young boys perfectly embody what their roles demand of them, whether complex or subtle. They carry their roles like veteran actors, moving seamlessly from tentative recognition to wonder and discovery until they’re two boys finding love for the first time. It’s a wonder given the fact that this is the first feature role for both Goossens and De Saeger, one could never tell this is their major role, and it is obvious how both will have a bright future ahead as adult actors someday. Ruben De Gheselle’s soundtrack is perfect; the score elevates the scenes to a whole other level of heightened emotions. The piano notes intercept closeups of Alexander and Elias staring into each other’s souls or riding their bikes freely out in the fields. 

Fans of Call Me By Your Name will slowly fall in love with this soothing picture, even if it’s a more tamed version of the gay romance genre. It’s not about sexual awakening but more about sexuality, desire, and the act of falling in love with someone at an age where love is yet to be defined. It stalls at times, and takes longer than it should to find events that drive the narrative forward, but does it matter? 

Young Hearts is a film about the growth of feelings that should be treated as such. It feels like a Rohmer masterpiece–time stands still and the joy is in the journey.

Young Hearts is currently playing in select theaters courtesy of Strand Releasing.