First Love Among Boys: “Young Hearts” – A Tender Coming-Out Film

By Sasha Brandt

Anthony Schatteman’s debut feature, Young Hearts, is a heartfelt and intimate portrayal of first love and self-discovery. Set against the backdrop of rural Belgium, this poignant coming-of-age film captures the delicate emotions of a boy grappling with his identity, offering a narrative as tender as it is relatable. It is the film we would all have liked to see as children.


Elias (Lou Goossens) is a reserved 14-year-old living in the shadow of his father, Flemish pop sensation Luk Montero (Geert Van Rampelberg). While Luk croons about the sweetness of first love to adoring provincial audiences, Elias navigates the early stages of a seemingly conventional relationship with Valerie. Yet, his heart isn’t fully in it. Everything changes when Alex (Marius De Saeger) moves in next door. Alex is bold, unapologetic, and magnetic—a city boy from Brussels who wears nail polish and openly discusses his past crush on another boy.

What begins as a tentative friendship blossoms into something more when Alex kisses Elias, igniting a whirlwind of emotion. Confusion, shame, and fear of standing out among his peers overwhelm Elias, creating tension between the two boys. Schatteman captures these moments with an unflinching yet tender lens, crafting a story rich in emotional authenticity.

Schatteman, who penned the screenplay based on his own experiences, has said he made the film he wished he could have seen as a teenager. Filmed largely in his hometown, Young Hearts thrives on its intimate setting, grounding its universal themes in the specificity of small-town life.

While contemporary queer narratives like Heartstopper and Sex Education often explore the complexities of teenage sexuality, Schatteman’s film focuses on the purity of first love. Sexuality is secondary to the film’s exploration of self-realisation and the courage it takes to embrace being different. In this way, Young Hearts shares more DNA with Lukas Dhont’s Close, another Belgian drama that delves into the nuances of adolescent friendship and identity.

Elias’s journey is neither overly dramatic nor idealised. A beautifully understated coming-out scene sees him confiding in his grandfather, who offers unwavering support. His mother’s warm acceptance is similarly moving. These moments of love and affirmation counterbalance the emotional turbulence, presenting a narrative that feels both hopeful and realistic.

In a world where queer youth still face disproportionate rates of discrimination and mental health struggles, Schatteman’s film provides much-needed representation. Young Hearts is a gentle reminder that, despite social progress, the journey to self-acceptance remains deeply personal and, at times, fraught.

By avoiding heavy-handed melodrama, Schatteman ensures his debut resonates with audiences of all ages. The subtle critique of Elias’s father—who sings endlessly about love yet remains oblivious to his son’s inner life—is a nuanced touch that adds depth without tipping into cliché.

With Young Hearts, Anthony Schatteman delivers a film brimming with warmth, tenderness, and quiet triumph. It is a love letter to queer youth everywhere and a testament to the transformative power of first love.

You can watch Young Hearts on Prime Video, Netflix and Disney Plus, in some countries.

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Author

  • Sasha Brandt is a staff writer and editorialist for GAY45 and Pavilion - journal for politics and culture. They will publish the first novel ‘Amber memoirs‘ in 2025. They live in Vienna.

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