Elliot Page recently starred in the film “Close to You,” which he co-wrote with Dominic Savage. The film follows the story of Sam, a transgender man who returns home to visit his family for the first time since his transition. The movie required the actors to improvise as there was no written dialogue in the script, creating an emotional exploration of coming home, acceptance, and love. Page described the experience of making the film as one of the best he’s ever had, finding it cathartic and healing.
Page shared that the project began with a conversation about running into someone from the past who couldn’t be fully realized at the time. The film follows Sam navigating sensitive conversations with his family and running into an old friend named Katherine. Page and Hillary Baack, who plays Katherine, talked about the improvisational process and the emotional moments that stood out to them.
Page also discussed how the experience of working on this film wouldn’t have been possible for him before coming out as transgender. He highlighted the comfort and solid foundation he now has to exist in these spaces and fully embody his character. The film includes poignant moments between Sam and his family, with one particularly powerful scene where Katherine tells Sam how proud she is of him, which resonated deeply with Page.
Overall, “Close to You” allowed Page to explore personal themes of identity and acceptance in a transformative and fulfilling way.
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