Elliot Page combats “horrific misinformation” of trans people in Close to You
Alongside Close to You co-star Hillary Baack and director Dominic Savage, Elliot Page reflects on the “spiritual experience” of filming the captivating new film and the necessity for LGBTQIA+ representation in media to counter attempts to “erase trans people.” WORDS BY ALICE MOREY HEADER DESIGN ANISA CLEAVER IMAGES COURTESY OF ME+YOU PRODUCTIONS “In a time where there’s this massive push to essentially erase trans people, I really want to see people play those roles,” Elliot Page says ahead of Close to You’s premiere at the BFI Flare LGBTQIA+ Film Festival (14 March).
Standing up in the face of the “horrific misinformation” currently being spread about trans people, Page leads the independent drama as Sam, a trans man who has an unexpected run-in with old friend Katherine (Hillary Baack).
With Sam visiting his family for the first time since his transition two years prior, Close to You explores the nuanced and often tumultuous experience a large proportion of LGBTQIA+ people experience re-entering a previously closeted space.
It is also, as Baack tells GAY TIMES, “a perfect example of the importance of authenticity.” Alongside Page and Baack, the film also stars Wendy Crewson, Peter Outerbridge, Janet Porter, Alex Paxton-Beesley, Daniel Maslany and David Reale.
