Quartile rating: 7.5/10 · 1 rating
Jessica knows exactly what her life is supposed to look like and where it takes her. But then she meets Danny. He has a complicated past and could confuse all their plans. Jessica has to decide.
Close to the Horizon is a German YA romantic drama tackling weighty themes like AIDS, childhood trauma, depression, and terminal illness within a star-crossed love story framework. The plot is emotionally earnest and benefits from its true-story basis, though the narrative arc follows fairly familiar tragic romance conventions. Acting is competent and emotionally committed for a YA production without reaching exceptional heights. Cinematography is pleasant and functional, capturing the emotional intimacy of the young couple without distinctive visual flair. Novelty suffers as the film treads well-worn tearjerker territory — the doomed love story with a dark secret is a staple of the YA drama genre, and despite its serious subject matter, the execution doesn't feel particularly singular. The ending, being rooted in real events, carries genuine emotional weight that elevates it somewhat above formula.