Canadian actor Elliot Page hopes that his role in the new film Close to You moves people and cracks open the hearts and minds of viewers as much as it did for him. The drama, which premiered at the Toronto Film Festival on Sunday, explores the story of Sam (Elliot Page), a transgender man who returns home after gender transition for a family reunion. He finds himself confronted with their discomfort, ignorance, and the unexpected strength of his support network.
Dominic Savage’s observant drama Close to You stars Page as Sam, who returns to his sleepy hometown for a long-delayed family visit. While his family is not hostile, Sam is not looking forward to the awkward questions and comments that will likely come his way. But a chance encounter with an old friend (Hillary Baack) forces him to confront buried memories.
In a rare move, the film uses no written dialogue, and the actors improvise all lines during production. For Page, a SAG-AFTRA member, the process of improvisation offered a fresh approach to acting and an opportunity to break away from some of his more conventional performances.
Page, also known for his roles in films such as Juno and Backspot, says that the improvised approach to acting allowed him to explore the depths of his character in a way that would not have been possible in a scripted film. He says the experience was “liberating” and felt more connected to his character.
While Page was thrilled to be able to work in a way that broke conventions and challenged expectations, he also found it challenging at times. He told CBC News that, at times, he struggled to find his footing on the set and felt he was making up things as he went along, which was a challenge for him as an actor.
In addition to his acting career, Page has been a prominent advocate for the transgender community. He came out as a transgender man in 2020. He published the memoir Pageboy earlier this year, which recounted some of the challenges he faced as a young person sharing his sexual orientation with a society that was often hostile to gays and lesbians, especially transgender people.
As he prepared to attend the Close to You premiere, Page expressed his hope that the film continues to raise awareness and encourage people to be more accepting of others. In a world where many feel that we live in an increasingly divided and divided country, Page feels that the film offers a glimpse of what can be done when people put aside their differences and work together to create a better future.
