Close To Leo

At 21, Leo is the eldest of four siblings; Marcel, age 11, is youngest. With their relatively young parents, they've always been happy and close-knit. Each is fairly open and accepting of Leo's homosexuality, but after learning he has AIDS, the family is faced with a situation that will eventually test all bonds. Worried that Marcel is too young to deal with this devastating news, he's omitted from the family discussions of Leo's HIV status. But one night after dinner Marcel overhears talk about Leo's health, and the news comes as a bombshell. The family continues pretending everything's fine to Marcel-and perhaps even to itself. Marcel is not duped, however, and he wants the truth to come out, but neither his parents nor his brothers can bring themselves to speak openly about the situation. Faced with the prospect of beginning an arduous medical regimen, Leo becomes increasingly more frustrated and he eventually takes matters into his own hands. He decides not to take the cocktail. Then he takes Marcel off to Paris so that he can explain both himself and his situation to his young brother.