In the film This Closeness, viewers are thrust into an unstable, confined space as Ben and his partner Tessa return to his hometown for a high school reunion — serving as an uncomfortable catalyst to the pair’s already-established interpersonal issues. But to make things more complicated, they’re renting a room from an extremely introverted man who’s not generally experienced at socializing.

Ben (played by Zane Pais) becomes a focal point of the flick as he contributes a unique representation of modern toxic masculinity to the story by reiterating unhealthy ideas about levels of partnership, a tendency to repackage an abrasive nature, and even a recurring imbalance of equality in his relationship. Through his nuanced depiction of Ben, Pais infuses vitality into the multifaceted character’s ego-driven persona, deftly maneuvering through various shades of toxicity and genuine detachment with absolute finesse. Which, given the not-so-lovable character, requires plenty of skill.

After screening the dark horse relationship drama that’s arriving on MUBI next month — Stardust had the privilege of speaking with Pais to gain insight into his exceptional role and what it entailed to bring this character to life.

Congratulations on the film and a wonderful performance! What was it about this particular story that originally enticed you?

Zane Pais: At the risk of sounding cliche, I knew I wanted to do this probably about six or seven pages into the script. Kit writes such specific, real dialogue that feels as if you’re eavesdropping on something you shouldn’t be, and I immediately had a visceral reaction to this relationship. Kit’s are the types of movies I want to be in - nothing in the script felt forced; it’s an organic, strange, kind of dread-filled unfolding of events that really captivated me. 

That quality of narrative feels radical in film right now, and kind of goes back to an earlier generation of filmmaking, where a script didn’t need to have a perfectly interlocking one then two then three plot to get made, and characters could exist and breathe without a writer’s hand so visibly nudging them along. Probably long-winded but Kit’s vision is singular and I needed to be a part of her movie world.

How would you describe the emotional journey that your character Ben goes through during this conflict-heavy weekend in Philadelphia?

Zane Pais: Ben needs control, and he needs control because deep down he’s insecure, about himself as a partner, and about Tessa’s love for him. So he lashes out and uses any ammunition he can to assert himself. And we see that assertiveness and confidence crumble and rebuild itself over and over.  

When you first read the script, were there any specific qualities or traits that you knew you wanted to flesh out?

Zane Pais: Kit’s writing is so specific, and I don’t think the script changed, but Kit creatively leaves a lot of room for her actors to put their own being into her writing. I wanted to examine Ben’s backstory with Tessa – how they met, and what their recurring fights are about. I just wanted to know as much as possible and internalize that so that I could be free during the shoot and not focus on, “I want this quality of Ben to come across here.”

There are a lot of obvious issues, and even several subtle ones when it comes to the state of Ben and Tessa’s relationship up until the very end. Given your perspective and insight – what are the chances of them actually staying together?

Zane Pais: I’m gonna give them a 60/40 chance. But I’m not sure which is the 60 and which is the 40.

Considering the film explores the nuances and intricacies of interpersonal relationships, was there any specific work that went into forming this palpable on-screen chemistry – or was it just more natural to tackle on-set?

Zane Pais: Kit, Ian and I hung out a lot before ever filming. A lot of reading the script together, a lot of discussing how things might play, and a lot of just hanging out. So everyone felt very comfortable on set. There is nothing like getting to know your coworkers really well before you have to show up and start shooting long scenes with unbroken takes. Kit knew it had to feel real, we had to feel comfortable with each other. She really fostered that.

What do you believe sets This Closeness apart from other films exploring relationships and isolation?

Zane Pais: All of the characters are ultimately alone, even when they’re together. The movie’s not a downer, but that’s part of what the film explores, using the petri dish of this anonymous Airbnb to explore that idea. And that sex and sensuality can’t save you from isolation. It’s our own internal guardrails that really fuck us in the end. It’s a delicate quality that this film has that I haven’t really seen before.

Lastly, what do you hope audiences will take away from your character’s exploration of masculinity and trust in the film?

Zane Pais: I think to explore Ben’s masculinity, it was examining the confidence he has in his relationships and that desire for this quality of nonchalant dominance. The more he tries to force that dominance – the more the results diminish proportionally. That’s maybe a useful takeaway.