What Is Close About?
The premise of Close in 328 words, with nothing given away. The full story follows below.
In a world where corporate ambition collides with geopolitical intrigue, a high‑stakes assignment drags a seasoned counter‑terrorism operative across continents. Tasked with safeguarding a young heiress on a journey that twists through bustling markets, fortified kasbahs and the glittering promise of a billion‑dollar mining deal, the film sets its stage against a backdrop of shifting alliances and hidden agendas. The tone is a lean, pulse‑quickening thriller, where every corridor could conceal a new danger and the line between protector and prey blurs with each step.
Sam Carlson, the protagonist, carries the weight of countless covert operations and a reputation forged in far‑off conflict zones. Trained to read threats invisible to ordinary eyes, she blends lethal efficiency with an unspoken vulnerability that hints at sacrifices made long before this mission. Her expertise is matched only by an instinctual drive to keep those under her charge out of harm’s way, even as she navigates a landscape that tests both her tactical mind and her personal resolve.
Zoe Tanner is the reluctant heir to a sprawling mining empire, a woman suddenly thrust into the glare of public scrutiny and familial power plays. Recently widowed from her father’s empire, she inherits not just wealth but a complex legacy tangled with her stepmother’s ambitions. Though accustomed to privilege, Zoe’s inexperience with the cut‑throat world of corporate machinations leaves her both exposed and unexpectedly resourceful, setting the stage for a fragile partnership built on mutual need.
As the two women are forced onto the run, the film leans into a relentless cat‑and‑mouse rhythm, balancing moments of quiet, introspective tension with bursts of kinetic action. Their uneasy alliance becomes the story’s core, a dance of trust and suspicion played out against an international stage where every ally might be a hidden foe and every safe house a potential trap. The atmosphere remains taut, inviting viewers to wonder just how far each will go to survive and uncover the forces that have set them in motion.
What Happens in Close?
The complete story of Close, from the first scene to the last, in 1,114 words (about 5 minutes). Spoilers throughout.
Spoilers ahead
Sam Carlson [Noomi Rapace] is a skilled close protection officer stationed on a routine assignment in South Sudan, where she proves her mettle by saving two journalists under attack from local insurgents. Her calm, decisive action under fire sets the tone for a story where loyalty, survival, and hidden motives intertwine. As the dust settles, Zoe Tanner [Sophie Nélisse], the troubled heir to the late Eric Tanner and owner of a vast stake in Hassine Mining, learns that she has inherited all of her father’s shares. This revelation, coming on the heels of a recent billion-dollar deal in Zambia that Rima Hassine [Indira Varma], Zoe’s stepmother and the company’s CEO, has already secured, heightens the tension within the family business. Rima’s ascent has not come without resistance, and her hold on the company’s future sits on a knife-edge as Zoe processes the shock of her new reality and the anger she feels toward the woman who would control not only the family fortune but the keys to her own destiny.
Rima, determined to safeguard the inheritance and cement her influence, insists that Zoe accompany her to the family fortification in Morocco so she can oversee the final stages of the mining venture. To ensure Zoe’s safety on this volatile journey, she hires Sam to act as her bodyguard, a decision that weighs heavily on Sam given that her previous assignment ended with the protection of a married colleague who betrayed the strict boundaries of their professional relationship. The two women travel to a fortified kasbah where the sun-baked walls and security systems project an aura of impregnable control. Yet the serenity is short-lived. Zoe’s demand that Sam stay with her throughout the trip—and even sleep in the same safehouse—triggers a cascade of breaches that will test every rule they’ve relied on.
Late that night, the property’s defenses falter. The security system is breached, and heavily armed intruders cut through the guard detail, cutting a swath through the staff as they advance toward Zoe’s room. The assault is brutal and efficient: the head of security falls, and the intruders push onward with a chilling focus. As chaos erupts, Zoe and Sam are forced to flee. In the ensuing escape through the winding corridors, Alik [Akin Gazi], the former head of security, is killed in the line of duty, leaving Sam and Zoe to improvise their way out of the trap. They manage to break away from the initial ambush and stumble into Casablanca, where a police response seems to promise help, but the situation quickly reveals itself as far more treacherous than it appears. A tense confrontation unfolds as Zoe, who speaks Arabic, overhears a troubling exchange about private addresses and money, and Sam’s attempt to de-escalate leads to a dangerous moment in which Zoe must fire a warning shot with Sam’s sidearm. The pair escape on foot into the city, seeking refuge in a hotel as the stock market trembles and the Hassine Mining deal hangs in the balance.
With the city’s shadows gathering, Sam and Zoe regroup with Conall Sinclair [Eoin Macken], Sam’s former lover and the boss who was supposed to oversee Zoe’s protection from a distance. The trio formulates a plan to slip out of the country together: Tangier, then a ferry to Spain. But their escape route is blocked in a brutal blow when Conall is killed during another ambush at the hotel. Sam’s experience and combat instincts come to the fore as she fights off two assailants to save Zoe from capture. The city’s maze becomes a proving ground for both women, testing their resolve and their willingness to risk everything for a chance at safety.
The story shifts to the Hassine Mining headquarters, where Sam and Zoe witness a troubling scene: Rima in the car park with one of the hotel’s attackers, an ominous sign that not all players in this game are who they appear to be. A chase leads them to a marina, where a confrontation reveals a deeper layer of complicity. In a brutal moment of improvisation, Sam dispatches the attacker with a fishing hook, a stark reminder of how close to the edge they are operating. A careful look through the attacker’s wallet reveals that he is a police officer who held Rima’s login details for the house’s security system, exposing a web of manipulation that extends far beyond a single corporation or crime scene.
Inside Hassine Mining’s conference room, a tense meeting to finalize the deal unfolds, but the atmosphere crackles with danger as a member of Sikong, Hassine’s rival company, threatens Zoe and the stability of the arrangement. The tension heightens as Sam and Zoe return to the abandoned safehouse, where Zoe learns a past detail that changes how she sees Sam: Sam once had a child whom she gave up for adoption at sixteen. This revelation adds a personal layer to their already precarious bond, and it deepens Zoe’s empathy for her protector even as external threats tighten their grip.
Rima, meanwhile, is watching every move. She receives a notification that the house’s security system has been accessed, an intrusion that grows into a full-blown siege. Corrupt police officers and mercenaries close in, preventing a Casablanca detective allied with Rima from entering and resolving the situation. In a dramatic turn, Rima arrives by helicopter, revealing that she has been maneuvered into a trap of blackmail by Sikong. The attackers strike hard, but Sam and Zoe intervene once more, driving back the danger and saving Rima from ruin. Sam sustains a wrist injury in the process, yet the two women—now fully cognizant of the stakes—ensure that Rima and Zoe are safe as the immediate threat subsides.
In the end, with the threat neutralized and the shadowy forces behind the attack unmasked, Sam steps back from the dangerous pursuit but remains committed to Zoe’s future. She heads home with a hopeful promise to keep in contact and to reach out to Zoe’s daughter when the time is right. The film closes on a note of resilience and guarded optimism, underscoring themes of loyalty, the costs of power, and the fragile boundaries between personal and professional obligations.
If you’re browsing for the key players, you’ll notice how the story threads together Sam Carlson [Noomi Rapace], Zoe Tanner [Sophie Nélisse], Rima Hassine [Indira Varma], Conall Sinclair [Eoin Macken], and Alik [Akin Gazi] as pivotal figures who drive the action, each bringing their own strengths and secrets to a tense, globe-trotting thriller. The interplay between these characters—set against corporate intrigue, political corruption, and high-stakes risk—creates a layered narrative where every decision could alter the balance of power and the course of lives caught in the crossfire.
Close Timeline: Every Key Event in Order
12 key events in the order they happen, from “South Sudan routine mission under attack” to “Rescue and tentative new beginnings”. 11 events name a place, across 10 locations.
- 1
South Sudan routine mission under attack
During a routine mission in South Sudan, Sam Carlson saves two journalists when their vehicle is attacked by local insurgents. She deflects the assault, protects her clients, and ensures their safe evacuation. The incident establishes her as a capable protector under immediate threat.
When:During a routine mission Where:South Sudan
- 2
Inheritance shocks Zoe and ignites family tensions
Zoe Tanner discovers she has inherited all of her father Eric Tanner's shares in Hassine Mining. The revelation shocks her and intensifies the power struggle with her stepmother, Rima Hassine, who has seized control of the company. Tensions rise as corporate leverage and family betrayals collide.
When:After Eric's death
- 3
Rima hires Sam as Zoe's bodyguard for the Morocco trip
Rima hires Sam to act as Zoe's bodyguard for the trip to Morocco, aiming to keep Zoe close during the deal negotiations. Sam accepts the assignment, wary of the dangerous family politics she will face. The arrangement binds Sam’s fate to Zoe’s perilous journey.
When:Before departure to kasbah Where:Morocco
- 4
Kasbah siege and lockdown
Arriving at the fortified kasbah in Morocco, Zoe and Sam witness a brutal security breach as intruders disable the system and kill several guards, including the head of security Alik. Zoe and Sam manage to escape the building as chaos erupts. The house is plunged into an airtight lockdown.
When:Evening Where:Kasbah, Morocco
- 5
Police intervention spirals into corruption
Responding officers promise to escort Sam and Zoe to a police station, but their behavior hints at a hidden agenda and corruption. In the ensuing struggle, Zoe shoots one officer with Sam's sidearm. The pair flee on foot into Casablanca, sensing a larger conspiracy surrounding the mining deal.
When:Night Where:Casablanca
- 6
Ambush at the hotel; Conall is killed
Sam, Zoe, and Conall try to escape by traveling as a family to Tangier and then a ferry to Spain, but they are ambushed at a hotel. Conall is killed, and Sam fights to protect Zoe, killing two assailants in close combat. The escape plan collapses, leaving Zoe and Sam scrambling to survive.
When:Night Where:Casablanca hotel
- 7
Return to Hassine HQ and spot a suspicious contact
Back in Casablanca, Sam and Zoe return to Hassine Mining HQ and witness Rima in a car park with a suspicious man connected to the earlier attack. They tail him to a marina, hoping to uncover who arranged the threat. Sam senses the man is part of a broader network tied to Sikong.
When:Next day Where:Hassine Mining Headquarters car park, Casablanca
- 8
Marina confrontation and login reveal
They follow the man to a local marina, where Sam fights and kills him with a large fishing hook. Reading his wallet reveals he is a police officer who had Rima's login details for the house security system. The discovery confirms deep corruption and links to the blackmail against Rima.
When:Day Where:Casablanca marina
- 9
Deal negotiations interrupted by Sikong threat
During a meeting to finalize the mining deal, Rima is confronted by a member of Sikong and reveals she is being blackmailed. She leaves without signing, citing the danger to her life. The negotiations stall as the external threat closes in on the family and the deal.
When:During negotiations Where:Hassine Mining HQ
- 10
Sam's past comes to light
Back at the abandoned safehouse, Zoe learns that Sam previously had a child whom she put up for adoption at 16. The revelation adds emotional weight to their alliance and reframes Sam's protective instincts. The knowledge deepens Zoe's understanding of the costs behind Sam's choices.
When:Post-HHQ events Where:Abandoned safehouse
- 11
Corruption erupts; final confrontation looms
The house is surrounded by corrupt police, preventing entry for a Casablanca detective working with Rima. Rima arrives by helicopter and reveals she is being blackmailed by Sikong, which escalates the danger. Mercenaries and corrupt officers assault the safehouse, and Sam is wounded in the wrist while defending Zoe and Rima.
When:Final confrontation Where:Casablanca safehouse
- 12
Rescue and tentative new beginnings
With Zoe and Rima safe, Sam leaves to head home but promises to call her daughter. The immediate threat subsides, leaving the trio to regain their balance and consider their futures. The mission closes on a cautious note, balancing loyalty, danger, and fragile trust.
When:Post-conflict Where:Casablanca
Who Are the Main Characters in Close?
6 characters, among them Sam Carlson, Zoe Tanner and Conall Sinclair: who each one is and the part they play in the story. Every profile links to the actor’s page.
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Sam Carlson
Played by Noomi Rapace
Sam Carlson is a highly capable close protection officer who guards Zoe through a dangerous, cross-border crisis. She remains cool under pressure, improvising to outmaneuver attackers and navigating a complicated past with her former lover, Conall. Her experience is seasoned but personal vulnerability emerges when she recalls having placed a child up for adoption at 16. This backstory adds emotional stakes to her protective drive and choices.
- 🛡️ Bodyguard
- 🌐 International operations
- 💪 Resilient
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Zoe Tanner
Played by Sophie Nélisse
Zoe Tanner is the troubled heir to Hassine Mining who inherits her father's shares and commands attention with her sharp will. She insists on Sam’s full protection and navigates the peril with a mix of fear, grit, and cunning. As events unfold, her Arabic skills and street-smarts help them maneuver through Casablanca and beyond, highlighting her resilience.
- 🎯 Heir
- 🧭 Determined
- 🎭 Complex
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Conall Sinclair
Played by Eoin Macken
Conall Sinclair is Sam's boss and former lover, a seasoned security specialist who helps coordinate their risky plan to escape. He accompanies Zoe and Sam, offering tactical expertise, but is killed during an ambush at the hotel as they pursue a safer path. His absence deepens the stakes and tests Sam's resolve.
- 💔 Ex-lover
- 🛡️ Mentor
- 🌐 Field operative
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Rima Hassine
Played by Indira Varma
Rima Hassine is the CEO of Hassine Mining and Zoe's stepmother, driving the family’s corporate ambitions. She negotiates the deal while contending with threats and blackmail from Sikong, and she is exposed to corrupt police pressure. Her vulnerability and strategic maneuvers reveal a complex character who is both a combatant and a stakeholder in the company’s fate.
- 💼 CEO
- 🧭 Ambitious
- ⚖️ Blackmail
- A
Alik
Played by Akin Gazi
Alik is the head of security at the kasbah safehouse, responsible for maintaining safety and responding to threats. He is killed as intruders breach the property, marking a devastating turn in the siege and highlighting the human cost of the conflict for those guarding the vulnerable.
- 🛡️ Security
- 💥 Fatal injury
- DD
DCI Damari
Played by Mansour Badri
DCI Damari is a Casablanca-based detective involved in the investigation surrounding the attack and the looming threat to Zoe and Sam. He operates in a system compromised by corruption and political pressure, illustrating the challenges of upholding law and order in a high-stakes security crisis.
- 👮 Detective
- 🕵️♂️ Investigation
- 🗝️ Mystery
Where and When Is Close Set?
Close is set in South Sudan, Morocco (Casablanca, Tangier, fortified kasbah) and Zambia. Here is why the place matters to the story.
Where
South Sudan, Morocco (Casablanca, Tangier, fortified kasbah), Zambia
The story unfolds across international locations: beginning with a mission in South Sudan, moving to Morocco's fortified kasbah and the cities of Casablanca and Tangier, and returning to Africa for Hassine Mining's interests in Zambia. The Moroccan kasbah setting provides a high-security backdrop for the siege, while Casablanca and Tangier become the streets of escape and pursuit. The Zambia mining deal drives the economic stakes and expands the plot beyond Africa to cross-border corporate maneuvering.
- 🌍 Global thriller
- 🛡️ Security drama
- 🗺️ International settings
- ⚖️ Corporate intrigue
What Are the Themes of Close?
4 ideas the story keeps returning to, among them Protection, Power and Family.
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01
Protection
Sam Carlson is a highly capable close protection officer whose job drives the action. The film centers on her ability to shield Zoe under extreme threat, improvising under pressure and making tough moral choices. The threats come from insurgents, corrupt police, and corporate rivals, testing her boundaries between duty and personal risk. Her past—having once given up a child for adoption at 16—adds emotional depth and informs her protective drive.
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02
Power
Hassine Mining's billion-dollar phosphate deal is the engine of the plot, highlighting corporate ambition and the ethics of doing business in volatile regions. Rima Hassine navigates pressure and blackmail from Sikong, trying to secure her family's legacy while maintaining control. A sudden drop in share price exposes the fragility of markets to violence and political intrigue. The story critiques greed and the use of security as leverage in high-stakes deals.
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03
Family
Zoe Tanner's inheritance and her fraught relationship with her stepmother propel the personal stakes of the conflict. The family dynamic—Eric Tanner's death, Zoe's access to his shares, and Rima's grip on the company—drives competing loyalties. Zoe's resilience and mistrust complicate the protective alliance with Sam. The struggle for control over a family business spills into the safety of the people around them.
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04
Conflict
The safehouse siege and the infiltration of both security teams and police corruption heighten the crisis. The narrative repeatedly blurs lines between lawful authority and criminal coercion, forcing characters to improvise for survival. Action sequences emphasize rapid decision-making under threat while exposing the vulnerabilities of security systems. The escalating violence tests the limits of trust among allies.
What Kind of Film Is Close?
Tense in tone, with fast pacing and a moderate story, going by the plot summary.
- Tone
- Tense
- Pacing
- Fast
- Story
- Moderate
- Intensity
- High
- Ending
- Happy
An explosive and consistently tense action thriller that follows a professional protector and her charge as they evade relentless attackers, balancing brutal violence with moments of emotional connection.
- tense
- suspenseful
- urgent
- brutal
- protective
- action-focused
- female bodyguard
- corporate conspiracy
- mother daughter relationship
- survival
Content notes: graphic violence, shootouts, home invasion, character deaths.
Quiz
How well do you remember Close? Test yourself on the story.
