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“All the ducks are yellow. And so are you … but you’re much more beautiful than the others. You’re special.” This was gut-wrenching yet beautiful. Oh my God. Worst part is, I’m not even exaggerating. This genuinely destroyed me, no one talk to me. The Farm The most impactful element in the film, in my opinion, is the farm. It shows the progression of Leo’s character, as well as the evolution of their friendship as a whole. In the beginning of the film, we see Remi and Leo running through the flower fields together. This shows the unselfconscious and pure intimacy of their relationship, their natural closeness. This field nurtures their friendship: freedom, comfort, and acceptance. If you look closely at that scene, you can see that Remi is slightly behind Leo, foreshadowing future abandonment. Slowly throughout the film, you can see more and more flowers getting picked as the friendship starts to crumble and break down. Then there’s the scene where the flowers are destroyed after their fight. It’s dark and rainy, reflecting the complete destruction of what they used to have. Then at the end, the flowers are replanted, signifying how Leo is trying to move forward and find new ways to fill the gap left behind by his friend’s passing. Then finally, in the last scene, Leo is running through the field alone. Color & Contrast Leo always wears white or bright colors, reflecting his bright personality and how impressionable he is. Remi is constantly associated with red, showing passion, warmth, and love. However, because Remi is very shy, you see red everywhere around him: in his clothes, in the flowers, and in the room where they sleep. The constant red around Remi expresses his inner feelings and his need for love and attention. This is especially noticeable in the final scene, where Leo runs alone through the field surrounded by red flowers. They serve as a constant reminder of Remi’s presence, even in his absence. The meaning of the color red changes throughout the movie. It goes from life, warmth, and passion when Remi is alive to pain and grief when he’s gone. The way Remi was performing with the orchestra was almost like a plea for help. He seemed anxious, rushed, and unsure of himself. The performance feels slightly off-balance, as if he’s questioning his own worth and struggling internally. Meanwhile, Leo is admiring him. His eyes are fixed entirely on Remi, while Remi’s gaze constantly wanders. This is the power of contrast throughout the movie. They have completely different personalities, yet they complement each other perfectly. They feel like two parts of the same whole. Toxic Masculinity One of the most heartbreaking aspects of the film is how it shows the importance of intimacy and how quickly it becomes invalidated by others. Leo and Remi’s closeness is constantly questioned and mocked by their peers. Their friendship is treated as something strange simply because it’s deeply affectionate. Intimacy between boys is seen as “gay” or “feminine,” even when it is entirely platonic. When Leo becomes aware of how others see him, he starts changing himself. He joins the hockey team, becomes more competitive, and begins distancing himself from Remi both emotionally and physically. Masculinity is presented as strength, toughness, and emotional coldness, and Leo slowly starts performing those expectations. The film also shows healthier forms of masculinity. We see Leo’s mother hug him to calm him down, his father hold his head while he cries, and his brother embrace him as he expresses his grief. These moments show that intimacy and vulnerability are not weaknesses. This is also why we rarely see Leo openly mourn Remi. He suppresses everything. It’s only after his injury that he finally allows himself to grieve, using it almost as an excuse to express emotions he has been holding back. That’s why the ending is so powerful. Leo believes Remi’s mother could never forgive him. Yet when she finally hugs him, there is nothing left to say. That embrace says everything. In a world that constantly tries to invalidate intimacy, the film argues that human connection is one of the most important things we have. Guilt & Visual Storytelling What made this movie unique was its use of visual storytelling. They convey everything silently, from how close they are in the beginning to it slowly shifting and eventually being destroyed. I’ve never heard silence so loud. Not much is said, but you understand everything deeply. I liked how there wasn’t constant screaming, dramatic breakdowns, or long unnecessary dialogue like you often find in American cinema. They make very little dialogue mean a lot, and that’s the beauty of cinema: showing, not telling. Even the cinematography reflects this. The film feels warmer when Remi is around, and then everything slowly starts to lose its color and spark after he’s gone. Even at the end, when Remi’s family decides to move away, it emphasizes the physical void Remi left behind and serves as another painful reminder that he’s permanently gone. It also forces Leo to confront his grief and find closure completely on his own. One thing I noticed is that in the beginning, their relationship has no label. It’s undefined, raw, and almost infinite. But when they’re forced to define it, it becomes something that needs to be explained or categorized, and it stops existing in the completely natural way it did before. Their dynamic transcends labels. To define is to limit. Overall, an amazing and devastating film. 10/10. 😔