Drawing Closer (2024)

Drawing Closer 2024

7/10
A devastatingly beautiful drama about ill teenagers that explores persistence in love and death

Our take

Through dreamlike colors and tears clouding my eyes, Drawing Closer paints a painful depiction of persistence in love and death. Initially, a number of coincidences and significant details about our main characters Haruna (Natsuki Deguchi) and Akito (Ren Nagase) and their interconnectedness seem to sprout up conveniently, without much weight behind them. But once the ball gets rolling, the film is feel-good in the worst way, an emotional deathtrap, and the most dangerous movie in the world for those who believe in love, and those perpetually afraid of dying in an expensive deathbed. Just thoroughly devastating and beautiful. A 10 in my heart.

Synopsis

With only a year left to live, 17-year-old Akito finds new meaning in life by bringing joy to a terminally ill girl who has just six months remaining.

Storyline

Two terminally ill teenagers find joy in creating drawings and being around each other in the tail end of their lives.

TLDR

I'm still crying.

What stands out

“This is nice. I guess this is what school’s like.” Haruna’s pointed optimism tears at my heart. :( :(