Elliot Page, the acclaimed actor known for his roles in Juno and The Umbrella Academy, has opened up about the profound personal impact of his latest film, Close to You. The story follows Sam, a recently transitioned man, as he returns to his hometown for the first time in hopes of reaching out to his family. The largely improvised drama allowed Page to tap into emotions parallel to experiences he has lived through, which was cathartic in many ways.
Page, who came out as a trans man in 2020, reflected on his portrayal of Sam and remarked that he likely could not have taken on this role before his transition. “There is no way that I would have been able to feel comfortable and present and grounded enough to actually exist and create that openly,” he stated.
Playing Sam was a “big, big healing experience” for Page, who expressed a sense of emotional release in his role as a man who has recently embraced his true identity while visiting his family for the first time. The actor woke up every day excited to go to set, a testament to the profound impact the role had on him.
Director Dominic Savage’s unique approach to the storytelling in Close to You involved a great deal of improvisation, which both intrigued and intimidated Page. Known for his work on Channel 4’s I Am anthology series, Savage allows actors to take over their characters. Page confessed that he was unsure if he would be able to handle the improvisational nature of the film, but on set, he felt so supported in letting those scenes unfold organically.
“It’s not normal as an actor working in film that you do a 23-minute take, 40-minute take. You get to go, and go, and go, and it was just an absolute joy,” Page said, describing the exhilarating experience of the lengthy takes. The collaboration between Page and Savage was “effortless,” with both sharing a love for personal narratives.
Close to You also features a gentle romance between Sam and Katherine, played by deaf actress Hillary Baack. The romance was written via improvisation, with no rehearsals to allow for authentic moments of connection. “It was really exciting to see what happened when we were able to just jump into the moment and just be on a journey through it together and find those moments of truth and of being human,” Baack said.
The complexity of Sam and Katherine’s love story lies within the unsaid emotions and in sharing feelings of being outsiders. Through all of these, their relationship is pure and touching to the human core, breaking the barriers that would naturally appear to disconnect them.
The film follows Sam’s return to the small Canadian town, where he confronts old memories, rekindles love, and strengthens familial bonds in the process of maturing into himself with gained confidence[4]. Page appreciated how the story shows why Sam “needed some space to really be able to live his life on his own terms”.
“We’re used to seeing that narrative that you’re referencing in regards to more hateful or abusive or what have you, and we did want to find something that was a little different, parents that are accepting of his transness, but maybe still are struggling to fully see Sam – are trying their best but not getting it quite right,” Page said.
The actor added that he believes many people will relate to the little moments in the film that reflect the challenges of early transition, especially when it comes to constantly dealing with others not fully understanding.
However, Sam also has to deal with family members who are not so welcoming, including a character called Paul, played by Suits star David Reale. The nature of improvisation meant Page didn’t know how Reale would approach conversations where he showed his transphobia, resulting in reactions that are “real”.
“It’s so funny when we do these scenes, because actually… I didn’t know he was going to say that,” Page said. “So my initial reaction and what I felt is, like – what you’re seeing is real.”
Page, who is used to interacting with people like Paul or worse, felt those emotions in his whole body during the scenes. “It definitely leaves you with those feelings,” he said, adding that there was a catharsis in expressing the anger he feels in those situations.
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Close to You is just one of the projects that Page has chosen that carry more personal importance for him since coming out as a trans man. The film is set to be released in the UK on August 30.
In conclusion, Elliot Page’s experience playing Sam in the largely improvised drama Close to You was a profound and healing one. The role allowed him to tap into his own experiences and emotions, providing a cathartic release. The film’s unique approach to storytelling and representation of the trans experience has made it a personal and important project for Page, who hopes it will resonate with many people.