La vie d'Adèle

Plot synopsis:
Chapter 1.In the opening shot, Adèle (Adèle Exarchopoulos), a young teenager living in Lille, France, is seen leaving her house in the morning to grab a bus and the subway to get to school.In class, they are reading 'The Life of Marianne'. The teacher speaks about chance encounters and how love at first sight can affect us. One boy says it would make him feel regret for not trying to talk to the other person. Adèle listens to all the discussion impassively.During lunch with her friends, they gush about sex while Adèle just listens. A boy, named Thomas (Jérémie Laheurte) looks at Adèle and smiles. Her girlfriends tell her that it is obvious that hes into her and she should do something about it, forcing her to take a look at him. But Adèle doesn't seem to be very interested in him. Shes actually quite detached. That evening at home, Adèle has dinner with her parents and discusses her day. She later writes in her diary and then goes to sleep.The next day, Adèle gets on the bus where Thomas joins her. They start a conversation and Adèle begins to loosen up. She learns Thomas is a senior (she's a junior, one year below) and that he hopes to study music later in life at a university. They begin to talk about music. Adèle says she loves all kinds but hard rock, as she stereotypes it as men with long hair who scream into microphones. Thomas laughs and says they apparently have a problem because he happens to like that kind of music. However, maybe it will give them an excuse to hang out again someday soon as Adèle notes, maybe the stuff he loves is different than her preconceived notions.Later, on a different day, Adèle about to cross the road when she sees a woman with blue-colored hair with her arms around another woman. As people cross the streets, Adèle turns her head to look at the woman, who in turn turns her head and smiles at Adèle. Adèle is stunned to feel a connection to a woman she has never met.Adèle then meets Thomas in order to hang out. They get lunch and talk about the book Adèle is reading for class, 'The Life of Marianne'. Adèle notes she hates when teachers over-analyze the book for her, thus taking away all the mystery and suspense. Thomas admits he hasn't read too many books but loved reading 'Dangerous Liaisons' in class since his professor was able to break down things he missed. Thomas promises to read 'The Life of Marianne' for her, as he is completely enamored with Adèle.Thomas and Adèle go to the movies. Thomas goes to hold her hand and kiss her neck and mouth. Adèle lets him a little but her heart isn't into it.That night, as she sleeps, Adèle begins to dream of the blue haired woman touching and kissing her. Adèle begins to masturbate in her sleep, touching her breasts and genitals, breathing deep. In the middle of it all, she wakes up startled. She can't believe what she was feeling.The next day, her friends want details in regards to Thomas, thinking the two slept together. Adèle denies that they did and finally leaves when she gets tired of their questions. Thomas follows into the school and asks if he did something wrong or that he went too fast because he really likes her. Adèle, desperately wanting to try and be normal with a boy who likes her, kisses him back.In the next scene Adèle and Thomas are seen in his bedroom and both of them are naked. They begin to have sex, which is apparently Adèle's first time ever. As they get into it, Adèle seems to enjoy it quite a bit. When it is over however, Adèle has a distant, detached look on her face. Perhaps, despite her desire to just be a normal girl who likes boys, it isn't enough or rather it is not the right thing for her. Thomas asks her if she is okay and if the sex was good. Adèle says that is was and kisses him. She lets him hold her.Adèle talks to her gay friend Valentin (Sandor Funtek) about unhappy she is with Thomas, because she feels as if she needs to fake it. She also notes she looks awful and Thomas would break up with her on that alone; she and Valentin joke about how this will be how her relationship ends. However, this gives her only a respite from reality. She will have to face him soon enough. Adèle smokes a cigarette at school before going to meet Thomas.In the next shot, Adèle and Thomas are sitting on a school bench. Adèle has told him that it isn't working for her but she never meant to hurt him. Thomas is visibly upset, however, he lets their relationship end without any objections. He then leaves.At home later that night, Adèle cries on her bed. She is confused over her emotions, and feels awful that she hurt a boy that only liked her and did her no harm. Adèle is now at a low point of her young life.Later, Adèle joins her friends during a student protest in the streets. She lets herself get caught up in it so she can forget her problems for a while.At school, Adèle sits in a stairwell and smokes a cigarette. A young woman, from her group of friends sits down next to her and bums a light from her. As another girl passes, the woman comments that the girl has a nice ass. Adèle scoffs at the comment, and the young woman says she thinks Adèle is the cutest girl in their year. Adèle blushes and the young woman tilts Adèle's face her way and kisses her on the lips to Adèle's surprise.At dinner that night, Adèle's mother notices a chance in her daughter, noting that she apparently had a good day. Adèle just smiles.The next day at school after class, Adèle tracks the girl down in the ladies restroom and when no one is around, starts to kiss her. The girl however does not respond to it. The girl then tells Adèle that she didn't mean for her to get addicted to it, and her kissing Adèle was just some harmless fun, making it clear she wanted nothing more. However, she tells Adèle that nothing will change with them and she will not tell their other friends, keeping her secret. Adèle is crushed, thinking she found a potential confidant/partner.Ignoring most of her gal pals, Adèle grabs Valentin and asks to go out with him that night. Valentin takes her to a gay club, where Adèle watches gay men dance and kiss. She is bewildered by it all but also sad because she doesn't have that type of connection in her own life. Seeing a woman that looks like the blue-haired girl she saw on the street, Adèle leaves the club, following the group of women to another bar.When she gets there, she realizes it is a lesbian bar. She gets a few looks and some of the women flirt with her. Adèle is a bit embarrassed by the attention and goes up to the bar and orders a beer. Looking up to the loft area she sees the very same blue haired-woman from that day. The woman sees her too and grins. The woman comes down and after deflecting another woman from talking to Adèle, begins to chat with her. The blue-haired woman introduces herself as Emma (Léa Seydoux).Emma tells Adèle that it is obvious that she is new to the scene given that she ordered a Bulldog, which a "dyke beer". Emma gives her a taste of her strawberry milk drink, to which Adèle admits she finds gross. Emma tells Adèle they don't get too many of her type in the bar. Adèle asks what type she is. Emma says the underage type. Adèle asks about what Emma does for a living and Emma replies she is 22-years-old and is in her fourth year of college, studying Fine Arts. They have a discussion of the various types of art and if there is such a thing as bad art. Adèle meanwhile admits she is still in high school as well as her real age of being only 16-years-old. Emma's friends walk up and tell her they are going to another club and want her to come. Emma introduces Adèle as her cousin to them. Emma then leaves, but not before getting Adèle to tell her the name of her high school that she attends.The next day, as school lets out, Adèle is with her group of friends when she sees Emma waiting for her. Adèle goes to her, ignoring all the calls of her friends. Emma invites Adèle to come and get a drink with her. Only Valentin realizes what is really going on and watches silently as the two girls walk away.Adèle and Emma sit on a park bench. Emma is sketching her. Emma asks if she feels embarrassed, and Adèle admits she does a little as it isn't everyday that she is sketched. The two talk a bit about philosophy and Sartre. Emma discusses how she agrees with Sartre ideals of choosing your own path in life without any higher principles, as it helped her decide what she wants out of life. Adèle compares the ideals to that of Bob Marley, and how the two were both committed in their principles and ideas. Emma shows her the final product, which she admits needs work. Adèle says it is beautiful. Emma then says she needs to leave and meet her girlfriend Sabine. Adèle gives Emma her number. As they stand up to leave, Emma stares at Adèle for a long time and moves closer as if to kiss her. Emma kisses Adèle's cheek and leaves, leaving Adèle feeling happy.When Adèle gets home later, her mother tells her a friend, Emma, is on the phone. Adèle rushes up and takes the call like a nervous schoolgirl talking to her crush.The next day, Adèle is quickly and decisively confronted by her group of friends. They want to know about Emma and why Adèle is hanging around with an obvious dyke. Adèle tries to deflect their questioning, saying Emma is just a friend. However, the third degree continues and turns very ugly. They ask about her going with Valentin to a gay club, which she tries to deny then must admit is true when Valentin confirms it. It is here when things go from bad to worse. They begin to ask Adèle if she is a lesbian and pretend to say that they don't care if she is but they want her to admit it. One of her friends gets very mean saying they slept together in the same bed naked and she wants to know if Adèle ever wanted her (based on the homophobic idea that all gay people want everyone of the same sex sexually, even friends). One of the girls finally takes it too far by asking if Adèle has tasted Emma's blue pussy. That sets Adèle off and she attacks the girl, having to be pulled off by Valentin. Valentin pulls Adèle away from the girls saying they know nothing as the girls scream at her. One of girls of the group tells the others they took it way too far; they meant to ask politely and they ended up verbally abusing Adèle.Adèle is in class having trouble concentrating on her studies. She is visibly upset and depressed about what happened between her and her friends.Some time later, we see Emma and Adèle at an art gallery taking in all the paintings and sculptures (it is unstated, but inferred that Emma and Sabine are no longer together). Later, they have a small picnic on a blanket in a park and discuss the art and life. Over smoking cigarettes and drinking wine from small bottles, Adèle asks when Emma first kissed a girl. Emma tells her she was 14. Adèle and Emma look into each others eyes for a long time. Then, Adèle gets closer to Emma and kisses her. Emma returns it. After a few moments, they break away and smile at each other.In the next scene, Adèle and Emma are in bed in presumably Emma's bedroom. They are both naked and about to have sex for the first time. In a six-minute scene, we watch Adèle and Emma make love (in a very, VERY explicit, hardcore lesbian sex scene). Their coupling and orally pleasuring each other is primal and full of lust leading to both of them climaxing. When it is over, they lay in bed side by side. As Emma falls asleep, Adèle has tears in her eyes which roll down her face as she gently strokes Emma's naked body; she finally has found a sexual connection that satisfies her body and her emotions.Some months later, (during the summer season), Adèle and Emma are seen at a gay parade together. After a while, Adèle loosens up and is happy. Seeing other same sex couples show public displays of affection, Adèle kisses Emma publicly, and walks down the street with her hand-in-hand. For the first time in her life, Adèle feels free to be herself.In the next shot (another few months later during the autumn season), Adèle and Emma are passionately kissing each other on the very same park bench they sat at when Emma sketched Adèle. They are both very happy.Another several months later, Adèle and Emma are going to meet Emma's parents for dinner. Adèle brings a plant as a gift. When they get there, Adèle is introduced to Catherine, Emma's mother and Vincent, Emma's stepfather. They are aware of Emma's sexuality and have no qualms with it, and openly support and love their daughter and her romance with Adèle (Note: Adèle and Emma have been in a relationship on the sides for two years now) . They ask about Adèle's plan after school, and she says she wants to go into teaching, as her learning impacted her life for the better. Vincent and Catherine applaud her choice, while at the same time, loving the fact that Emma is in art, despite its hardships.We see Adèle and Emma having sex again (grinding) in Emma's bedroom. They never talk, but are both very passionate.Adèle arrives home some time later, but doesn't find her parents. She goes outside to the back yard to see that they threw her a surprise birthday party with all her school friends for her 18th birthday as well as her upcoming graduation from school. She is happy as they sing her a song. They eat and dance, but Adèle basically dances alone since she is not comfortable enough to be fully out with everyone, including her parents. Thus, she cannot dance with Emma.Adèle brings Emma home to have dinner with her parents one night. However, her working-class and conservative parents are clueless about their daughter's sexuality, and believe that Emma is just a friend that helped Adèle understand Philosophy better. It is clear that Emma is hurt that Adèle is lying to her folks about her, but understands why and goes along with it for her sake. Adèle's parents ask about what Emma does and mentions she works in art. Adèle's father says it must be hard to make a living, and Emma admits that is true so she is a graphic artist on the side to pay the bills. Adèle's parents ask if she has a boyfriend, and Emma lies and says she does but she is in no rush to get married. Adèle's parents laugh and say she shouldn't rush. Adèle and Emma share a knowing look.In the next scene, Adèle and Emma lay naked in Adèle's bed making love again. When they are finished, they laugh about the fact that Adèle's mother thinks Emma is sleeping in the air mattress nearby. Emma jokingly asks Adèle if she is enjoying her philosophy lessons, and gives her a grade in the subject. They giggle at their little secret and kiss. Emma tells Adèle that she loves her. Overjoyed, Adèle tells Emma that she loves her too.Chapter 2.The film re-opens four or five years later. We see Emma sketch Adèle as she lays out nude on a sofa with a cigarette dangling from her mouth. Emma's hair is now dyed blonde. Adèle and Emma live together like a committed couple.We see the first of many days of Adèle as a teacher for pre-school age children. She seems to love her job. One her male colleagues ask if she wants to go out with a few others for a drink. Adèle declines saying she has plans. Adèle says that she is having a "family dinner". The co-worker accepts that, but says that if she never wants to hang out after work, to let him know (Note: it is implied that Adèle no longer keeps in touch with her own parents after apparently coming out to them about her sexuality which may have resulted in them severing all ties with her to express their disapproval).Emma is having an art showing of her work at her and Adèle's apartment. Adèle spends the day making the food and making sure they have enough of everything for the guests. A majority of the guests are from Emma's art crowd which makes Adèle uncomfortable as the social and intelligence gap between them bothers her. Thus, she tries to busy herself most of the time, so she doesn't have to talk to anybody and feel dumb. However, one man named Samir (Salim Kechiouche) manages to convince Adèle to sit down and talk. Samir tells her he acts in movies, usually as a stereotypical Arab terrorist and has been to New York City several times. Adèle admits she wants to go to New York and see America but hasn't had time. Samir says she should as it would change her look on life. Samir asks about Adèle liking women, and Adèle admits to him that she and Emma are a couple and this has been her first real romantic relationship with a woman. Samir acts supportive, already knowing that Emma is a lesbian.However, despite this nice conversation with Samir, Adèle is unable to talk to anyone else at the party. Also, she cannot be help notice that Emma has been very close to another woman, the pregnant Lise, who Emma introduced to her earlier. Adèle begins to think that maybe Emma is pulling away from her.Adèle cleans up after the party then heads to bed, where Emma is waiting. Emma says she thinks Adèle should do more with her writing because it is so good. Adèle however says she only writes in her diary, and she doesn't know how to convey her voice in fiction; plus she has no desire to write. Her passion is in teaching. Emma speaks of life being about creating things, building things that matter, while Adèle is more concerned with just being happy; she finds her fulfillment in being with Emma. Adèle wants to make love but Emma says they can't because she is on her period. Adèle is a little skeptical given the time of month, but just lets it go. Adèle asks about Lise. Emma tells her that Lise isn't an ex-girlfriend or anything, but is just another painter like she is.In the next scene, Adèle is at work again watching the kids have their nap time. When she gets home, there is a message on the answer machine from Emma, saying she is working late with Lise, and Adèle shouldn't wait up.Deciding not to stay at home like usual, Adèle decides to go out and get drinks with her co-workers, including the male one that kept asking. They drink and decide to dance. Adèle loosens up and seductively dances with the man. Eventually, she kisses him passionately. A combination of feeling neglected by Emma, wanting a connection, and perhaps wondering if she is fully gay has led Adèle to cheat.The next morning, Adèle listens while Emma is on the phone. Apparently, Emma is having trouble with a potential buyer who wants every detail about Emma, including her sex life in order to fully articulate her paintings. Emma tells the person on the phone she will reveal some things, but some things are to be left private. As Emma hangs up, Adèle tells her it is normal to feel tense at times about revealing her sexuality to strangers.Back at school, it is clear that Adèle's head isn't fully in her teaching as she is feeling some guilt about kissing her co-worker.Apparently going out with him again, she is given a ride home by him one night. She kisses him goodbye then pretends to head into another apartment complex before going to her real apartment. Emma is waiting for her, tense and not happy. Adèle goes up to her acting like nothing is wrong and that's when the trouble begins. Emma asks who dropped her off. Adèle first says a female colleague; she went out with co-workers and has decided to not be out with them. However, Emma knows it was a man, so Adèle is forced to change her story.Emma then reveals that she saw Adèle kiss him. Emma screams at her asking how many times she slept with the man. Adèle initially denies it, but Emma keeps going on, asking how long she has been lying to her. Adèle finally breaks down, saying she indeed slept with the male colleague a few times but it meant nothing. She just felt so alone and Emma was pulling away from her and wouldn't talk to her. Having heard this admission makes Emma completely explode and she calls Adèle a slut and tells her to get out, throwing clothes in a suitcase. Adèle pleads to let her talk about what happened but Emma won't hear it and throws her out saying that they are through. Adèle finally leaves and walks down the street into the night, completely heartbroken and sobbing uncontrollably.Adèle is back at school teaching and participating in a school stage event, but her heart it isn't it. At the end of the term, she hugs her kids goodbye. When they leave, she breaks down crying in the empty classroom.Some months later, during a summer trip with some of her students, Adèle plays with the kids on the beach. Asking for another teacher to cover for her for a few minutes, Adèle goes to take a swim in the sea. She pauses off-shore and floats on the water. The water's color is blue, like Emma's hair.Another few months later, Adèle is in class during a new school year, teaching dictation of sentences to a new group of first graders.In the next scene, Adèle is at the same park bench where she and Emma spent time together. She lies down and closes her eyes.Adèle is next seen in a seedy room of a flophouse where she now lives alone. She cries herself to sleep seemingly every night. One night as she sleeps, she jolts awake after a supposed nightmare (a deleted scene shows she dreamed about Emma and Lise having sex). Looking disheveled and fatigued, she sits up awake, chain-smoking and looking emotionally empty and desolate.Another year or two later, Adèle meets with Emma in a coffee shop. They tenderly embrace and go to sit down to catch up. Adèle is still teaching at her elementary school, and Emma is still doing art and has a few new shows coming up. Adèle says she wants to save up and buy a painting of hers. Emma says she will give her one for free, but Adèle says it is a point of principle to pay for it, to which Emma nods. Emma reveals she has been in a relationship with Lise for several years and has become a second mother to Lise's three-year-old daughter. Adèle reveals that she hasn't been in any relationship since their breakup (which was over three years ago).(Note: an implied argument can be made here that perhaps Emma had been become bored with Adèle but didn't have a good reason to end it. It is quite possible Emma cheated on Adèle with Lise. Thus, when Adèle admitted to her infidelity, it gave Emma her reason for ending their romance, hence her overly agitated response and her unwillingness to even talk to Adèle; she was projecting).Emma says that her home life with Lise is intellectually stimulating. Adèle asks about their sex life, and Emma admits it isn't like the one she had with Adèle. Adèle says it must be boring. Adèle says she misses Emma and that she wants her. Adèle slowly starts to kiss Emma's hand. When Emma doesn't respond right away, Adèle tells her to touch her and forces Emma to kiss her. Emma, clearly still attracted to Adèle to some capacity, gives in to the advances. The two kiss and caress each other longingly for a few moments, but Emma pulls away. Ashamed, Adèle apologizes and asks if she will see Emma again. To her dismay, Emma says no. She has a family now and she can't risk it. Adèle asks if Emma still loves her. Emma says that she doesn't, but she has infinite tenderness for Adèle and will remember their times together for the rest of her life. Adèle, though heartbroken, understands and tells Emma she can leave. They embrace passionately. As Emma leaves, Adèle breaks down in tears.The next scene shows Adèle back in her classroom teaching reading and writing to her young first-grade students. Adèle now wears eyeglasses and styles her long hair in a more traditional manner to make herself look older. She still appears to function well as a teacher, but now appears to be emotionally empty and unattached to anyone or anything.An unknown amount of time later, Adèle showers, puts on makeup as well as a bright-blue dress, and leaves her small apartment where she now lives to walk a few blocks to an art gallery. It is a showing of Emma's work and she has been invited for a noon showing. The two old lovers greet each other and Adèle thanks Emma for inviting her. Adèle looks at all the pieces, and is both startled and surprised to learn that she is still a muse for Emma, showing up still even in her new works. Adèle quickly becomes uncomfortable seeing her former lover, Emma, with her new lover, Lise, who is also in attendance. Although Emma acknowledges Adèle, her attention is primarily on the gallery's other guests and her current partner.Adèle bumps into Samir, and finds out he got out of acting and is now in real estate. Samir admits that this art gallery isn't his scene either. As Samir excuses himself to talk to someone, Adèle looks around and realizes a few things. One is that the incompatibility of their intellectual circles and their personal desires for life doomed her and Emma's romance long before infidelity entered the picture. Secondly, that this world of Emma's isn't a part of Adèle's anymore. She and Emma are no longer together. That chapter of her life is closed. As terrifying as it will be, Adèle realizes that she needs to move on with her life, completely away from Emma. Without saying another word to anyone, Adèle quietly leaves the gallery and walks home. Samir notices she is missing and looks outside to find her, but he misses her going around the corner and gives up his search.In the final shot, Adèle is walking down the street alone towards her home. Adèle clearly knows that this part of her life journey is over and now she must write the next chapter of her life. On that sad and ambiguous note, the film suddenly ends as calypso drums play over the closing credits.

Tags: dramatic, romantic, queer

Review:
The film's nearly three hour running time is devoted to showing the growth of her character and it is absolutely amazing to watch it unfold right in front of your eyes.The intimate scene's between Adele and Emma are nothing short of miraculous in their depth and their honesty.
I congratulate the director, Abdellatif Kechiche and the two actresses, Adele Exarchopoulos and Lea Seydoux for an emotional and spiritual journey that had me compelled to the screen for 179 glorious minutes..
The story, along with its characters, moves the film along to the point where it didn't feel like 3 hours.
This film was probably the most emotionally intense and powerful movie I've seen in a very long time.
Kechiche sets it in Lille, a town in Northern France, full of provincial living and entirely captures how it is in general in this town - when the characters walk around you feel that he understands what he is talking about.The film is about desire, desire to eat, desire to sleep with someone, desire to dance and it is portrayed within a first relationship between two women.
When she cries, when she eats, when she sleeps you believe her.Much has been said about the sex scenes, which are very graphic, however these are entirely relevant to the plot and the furore seems to be about the actors criticising the director for pushing them too far, however, without this pushing this film wouldn't be nearly as good.
Some people will find these scenes too long ( one of them could take 10 minutes ), but I find it necessary to establish your follow up of the passion they have between each other, so that when things goes worse you also are one with the situation.This movie, natural, honest about love, life and sexuality could be attended by children of 12 and more, if they are explained things of life ( they also can see all kind of war movies  ).
This is a movie for all of us, independent of your orientation being gay, hetero, bisexual,  It is a Love story.Each feeling, being angry / disappointment / sad / etc , can be seen on the faces of Adele and Emma and by this I have to say that these actresses are just superb, in fact I don't know another word to say extraordinary acting.
This year's Palm d'Or winner is a coming of age story about a teenage girl, Adele (the literal title in French is The Life of Adele), who discovers her homosexuality and begins a relationship with Emma, a college student.
The major sex scene that everyone talks about took a gruelling 10 days to shoot and was only the actors 2nd shot on-set together, they literally didn't know each other and were suddenly put together to perform these scenes for an imposing, frustrated director.Léa Seydoux and Adèle Exarchopoulos have both stated that the 3 hour film doesn't really show how much they shot, that the director would do hundreds of takes of even the most simple scenes, extend scenes and shoot for extremely long periods of time and would become enraged if they laughed even once out of one hundred takes.Knowing how the actors felt about it (thankfully they have been vocal in interviews about how horrible and unpleasant the experience was) how uncomfortable they were with unchoreographed sex scenes; sex scenes are almost always choreographed, shots and various angles kept to minimal length so that actors are more comfortable and that the experience is as desexualised as possible.
The correct English translation of the title is The Life of Adele, as if the life of the character is just discovering her sexuality in a teenage romance.If it wasn't for the gay twist, the same storyline with a hetero couple would make people leave the movie at the first 20 minutes..
Those who had seen, I am sure you can't express the feeling in words.I started watching with skepticism, but turned out to be the Best of 2013 on par with The Hunt, better than Hunt in terms of the emotions displayed by Adele at her age.
Look up search term "Eileen Myles really hated blue" she says it so much better than I ever could.But I have to write nine more lines of text for this film, which it does not deserve even that much, much less the three and a half agonizing hours I endured watching girl pornography by and for straight men.
I feel that the only reason this movie has got so much attention is the cheep use of lesbian porn, and you can find that a lot faster on the web without wasting three hours of your life.
Finally, an event occurs which Emma uses as an excuse to break things off with Adele, crushing the younger woman and introducing her to her first taste of heartbreak.Over the course of three hours, "Blue Is the Warmest Color" explores the dynamics of this relationship in meticulous detail, and it's something to behold.
You want to see good things happen to her, but after a while you kind of just want to be away from her because her discomfort with herself begins to rub off like a stain.Typically, debate about this movie has centered around the graphic sex scenes between Adele and Emma, which reduces the movie to a titillating mainstream porno when it's anything but.
This movie is why i want to be an actor, and i pray that the audience watches this film with an open mind and heart in order to feel everything that these beautiful characters are feeling.
This is simply gender propaganda and Mr. Kechiche's films something he can't feel, except for the sexual excitement he gets filming actresses not pretending but going all the way (as they said after making the movie).
This film is so slow, so boring, so predictable, so has-been-done-before that it boggles the mind that someone actually thought it out, wrote it down in script format, and then convinced someone else that it was a good idea to make it into a movie, then convinced an investor to sink his money into this utterly pointless exercise in futility, a very mundane lesbian story with no redeeming qualities whatsoever.And someone should have told the director, Mr. Kechiche, that there was something called "editing" where you actually cut out the scenes that don't add anything to the story, like people sitting down to eat dinner every 10 minutes, and talking about stuff that is completely irrelevant to the story.
The theme of this film has been done to death, and I have watched much better lesbian movies than this one that were never even shown in theaters let alone won the Palme D'Or. You just have to check Netflix or any DVD store, or Amazon for lesbian themed movies and you will see a plethora or them, many much better than this French bore that has more scene of people eating and dancing than anything else.
The love story between Adèle and Emma is too graphic and there is no art in watching two women sucking, licking and caressing each other many times for a long period in excessive sex scenes.
The lead character looks like she should be doing rolls for 14-15 year-olds and there's not a hair to be found away from the head.It does earn and maybe even define the title "coming of age film", tracking a teen girl shifting into young adulthood.
I thought their tone was in keeping with the raw nature of sexual awakening and desire, but I just felt that they went on a bit too long....a hammer would have done, but I was presented with a jackhammer, if that makes any sense....Lea Seydoux was great as per usual, but aptly given the original French title of this movie and the name of the lead character,Adèle Exarchopoulos was absolutely incredible...I never read this book, but if they say a picture can convey a thousand words, this book must have been longer than Encyclopedia Britannica and then some, because seriously, there were so many things being said without a word being uttered, it was utterly mesmeric...
It seems quite fitting ironically that his characters discuss Sartre regarding existence preceding essence, for in this film, the essence of the main character drives the existence of the narrative.Also, I would like to add that in certain frames of the movie, Adele Exarchopoulous is the spitting image of a young Sandrine Bonnaire, who also exploded onto the scene with A NOS AMOURS and VAGABOND some 30 years ago.
The hype about the lesbian sex ( though titillating) doesn't matter, it works as a great coming of age love story that doesn't hide the hard truth about it.
It is an extraordinary film, unapologetically frank in its depiction of the titular character's sexual awakening and emotional growth over the course of several years, but still acutely affecting in the way that it fully immerses the viewer into the primal, dismantling experience of falling in love.
'La vie d'Adele' could have been such a beautiful film, but to me it has a sick porn movie feel to it.
This movie goes so far beyond "documentary" that it is insane....for 3 hours I felt like I was truly in Adele's heart, feeling every high and low she went through.I normally avoid reading reviews for movies because I get majorly over-hyped at first, then eventually disappointed.
Adele was initially in denial about her sexual feelings in the face of unsupported and cliquey girlfriends, but with Emma she's free to comfortably show her true colours - the two walk hand in hand in a gay pride scene, surrounded by other liberated individuals and the freedom of this scene is just radiating.The most remarkable aspect of Blue is the Warmest Color is not the story itself but the transcendent and epic way its depicted.
It is in fact a long movie, but although I felt it wasn't necessary, the running time didn't deter me and I would recommend it to anyone who is interested watching a film that talks about growing up and exploring sexuality without prejudice and moral dilemmas.Rating: 8,5.
It was pretty well just a base, non creative love story with the only things changed being its now about some lesbians, with gratuitous nudity thrown in and conversations about art throughout the film.I think the major problem with this film was not the actresses or the premise, it was the lacklustre hack of a director, who is clearly just some straight guy making a movie on what is mainly accepted to be a love story and trying to be edgy.
Maybe if you don't watch many European films, or have never seen a Lesbian-themed film before, you can end up being taken so aback by the sex scenes - which, credit where credit is due, are carefully embedded in the story - that you'll go 'wow'.
As for the rest, enough to say that the whole story would fit in a twenty minutes short if not for the long, nap-inducing meaningless scenes.The movie is full of scenes containing lengthy character close-ups, silent walks apparently to nowhere in special and even people sleeping are scattered all over, making the three hour long final cut almost unbearable to watch.I could not figure the purpose or why they left scenes where nothing happens in a movie that is too lengthy and boring.I am ready for the gay community bashing session, but even some of them agreed with me, saying this is a low-paced movie with a simplistic and naive screenplay.
Watched Blue is The Warmest Color for the second time, ill say again: this movie is the most touching and realist love story ever told.
Set in small-town France, the film explores how Adele and her girlfriend Emma (Léa Seydoux) try to continue their passionate relationship in a world where same-sex affairs are still stigmatized.
The film has explicit sex scenes, but they seem somehow remote, almost as if Adele and Emma are trying their best to achieve personal fulfillment through physical means.
There are flaws here and there, I was in the party that found the extended sex scenes unnecessary, it is rose-tinted and overly-optimistic of people's tolerance, it is overly-romantic of people's artistic intelligence, and perhaps the film doesn't address prejudice and hetronormativity in the same way that Weekend does, for example, but it remains a remarkably human experience; an experience so grand yet intimate and genuine that Blue is the Warmest Colour is likely one of the great modern visions of love and longing, as well as a true modern LGBT masterpiece..
Sometimes the Universe gives us this privilege, it could be in a Painting, in a Play, in Music or in this case , in a Movie.When all the necessary ingredients are gathered and mixed harmoniously and naturally we have the perfect Chemistry.The right Director, the right actresses for the role, the right story, the right music, the right everything.And the result is Art.From the teenagers doubt about their sexuality, through the unknown world of something new, through the intense passion to the suffering of losing someone we love, we have it all so clear, simple and realistic in this masterpiece.This movie will be a reference..
You can really see that their hart and soul went into this, I cannot remember a performance this good by such a young cast.What I loved most about this film is how it literally and figuratively zoomed in on the life of Adele.
The time jumps itself where a bit unexpected at first but added to the plot.There where quite a few sex scenes and normally they don't add a lot to the plot but in this film I think it was one of the key points to show the passion that Adele and Emma had for each other.I hardly noticed the score (I'm actually not sure if it was there at all) but most dance scenes where really well done.So much detail went into the ending of the film which I thought was a great touch.I think I was 16 the last time I fell in love with an actress on-screen, but the stellar performance and amazing beauty of Adèle Exarchopoulos was just to much to handle!
This amazing movie is one of the best movie I have ever seen in my 10-years cinema life.The 2013 Palme D'Or winner from Cannes Film Festival, La Vie d'Adèle - Blue Is the Warmest Color,is not only stunning but also impressive.It is a love story between two woman who meets in a gay bar.The way they speak , they eat is seems to be so real.Because of that the audience can imagine themselves as the third character in every scene.I think this arise from the director.The director,Abdellatif Kechiche, has done its best.The duration of the movie is neither long nor short.It is enough for the audience to understand the general atmosphere of the events.the leading actors in the movie(Adèle Exarchopoulos and Léa Seydoux)were excellent..
Winner of the prestigious Palme d'Or at 2013 Cannes Film Festival, Blue Is the Warmest Color garnered universal acclaim from critics & viewers around the world for its raw & powerful portrayal of a human story but what really provided this coming-of-age drama a worldwide attention is the substantial amount of controversy it generated from its steamy lesbian sex scenes, which are no doubt graphic in nature.And since every major award winner comes burdened with heavy expectations, this film is no different.
And supporting her with another stupefying performance is Léa Seydoux who plays Adèle's love interest Emma, and their on-screen chemistry is impeccable.Finally coming to the controversial sex scenes that have kind of defined this movie ever since it had its first premiere, Blue Is the Warmest Color features one of the most erotic, graphic, explicit & explosive girl-on-girl action in cinema history but this one part is so overly exaggerated & blown out of proportion that it's plainly insulting to the whole film & what it's really about.
This film tells the process of a young woman growing up, coming to terms with her sexuality and living her life as a person she wants to be.Despite it being three hours long, I could hardly believe it when it ended.
When I look at her eyes, I would know what's going on and how it's going to be.Lastly, I would like to thank Abdellatif Kechiche, Adele Exarchopoulos, Lea Seydoux and anyone involved in this movie for having created the real epic of cinema..
It's a French film concerning a young lesbian couple with explicit scenes of sex, bearing an NC-17 rating, and is ten minutes shy of being three hours long.
It briefs how hard a life as a gay and within that relationship problems like regular ones.The director used some of the outstanding tricks to capture many great scenes for the movie.
It shows how todays director's are fearless to show what they really wanted in their films.Like the original French title say 'La Vie D'adèle: Chapters 1 and 2' this movie divides its story telling into two parts.
Movie's most important aspect is its honesty.i think that is the bet the director made to himself and started shooting endless video of the two costars until they would not see the camera at all.that and together with their talent give us an honesty that jumps out of the screen and grab each one with a different way.i personally totally forgot the lesbian theme much like broke-back mountain.a true passionate love story with Greek actress Adele giving an outstanding performance.she shows so much with such a simplistic and honest way that leaves you speechless.Lea Seydoux is also excellent.
She really uses her eyes and mouth to convey her emotions quite well, it feels like there isn't a moment in the movie that you don't know what Adele is thinking.
The film imposes itself as a raw slice of Adele's life.Do not get discouraged with the staggering three hour long runtime, Blue is the Warmest Colour is a pleasing reality-based, hard-hitting depiction of our young generation's internal thought process in dealing with love.