Blue Is the Warmest Color

Welcome to another episode of Lights....Camera....Popcorn!

Today's review is Blue Is the Warmest Color.

Directed by Abdellatif Kechiche.

Written by Abdellatif Kechiche & Ghalia Lacroix.

Based on the graphic novel - "Le Bleu est une couleur chaude" (Blue is The Warmest Color) written by Julie Maroh.

Review #233

MPAA Rating: Rated NC-17 for explicit sexual content.

Run Time: 179 min

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Cast

Léa Seydoux...Emma

Adèle Exarchopoulos...Adèle

Love is the greatest emotion we can feel. It's also the most complicated and by far most DANGEROUS! Love makes people feel superhuman and in the blink of an eye make them feel powerless. We've all been through this but what happens when you find that someone. You know who I'm talking about. The ONE and one GIGANTIC mistake cost you more than you could ever imagine.

Ladies and Gentlemen....Welcome to Blue Is the Warmest Color. My new and FINAL choice for BEST FILM OF THE YEAR!

This time of year brings some truly amazing work and I know I've been glowing over some really good films claiming them to be the best of the year. Then I'll see something else that will take over the belt but this time my mind is made up and NOTHING will change it. I realize this is severely unfair to some of the upcoming films I intend to see but this film has done something to me that hasn't happened in a very long time. This film touched me emotionally thus becoming more than a movie.

It was an EXPERIENCE!

Plot

Adele's life is changed when she meets Emma, a young woman with blue hair, who will allow her to discover desire, to assert herself as a woman and as an adult. In front of others, Adele grows, seeks herself, loses herself, finds herself.

First things first. This film has created an enormous amount of buzz and controversy. The buzz comes from it's Palme d'Or win at Cannes. The controversy is aimed at the extremely explicit sexual content. So like other critics that have reviewed this film. I will address the elephant in the room right at the top. The sex scenes in this movie are very graphic. Highlighted by the first sexual encounter between the two lead actresses. It methodically toes the line between cinema sex and pornography. This is of course by design by director Kechiche. However, his choice to go this way has created a divide among people in the industry and the public. The film is banned in Iowa and the NC-17 rating has scared theater owners from showing it. 

My take on these scenes is simply complex. On one hand I can see the reason for outrage. The first scene between Adele and Emma is very very VERY LONG. It's raw, uninhibited and erotically charged. It can be uncomfortable to watch and feels gratuitous. On the other hand this scene along with the other ones in this film do more than just showcase two women embraced in carnal desire. They serve a higher purpose which is to enhance the narrative and the chemistry between the characters engaged in the act. Now the stuffy do gooders would say that's just a cop out so the film can show two chicks f***king like animals. Fair point but if that's what you thought watching this scene then you MISSED the point entirely.

The sex in this film depicts physical and emotional growth between the two leads. They are exploring their feelings for each other as well as their bodies which is how I took it. I've read other reviews of this film by several other critics and they all came to the conclusion that in a 3 plus hour film there's about 10-20 minutes of sex. I did think it was a bit creepy that these people felt compelled to time the scenes out but regardless it's a very small amount in the grand scheme of things. This is just a theory but I think part of the reason people have issues with the sexual content in this film is how much of it takes place in succession. After Adele and Emma's first love making session they go at it 2 more times after preceding scenes that showcase the expansion and maturity of their relationship. It feels like it's too much but I have to reiterate that there was much more meaning behind the additional encounters than just the presentation of the physical action.

OK. Now It's time to dive into what made this film so marvelous and it lies primarily behind the performance of Adèle Exarchopoulos as Adèle. For some odd reason her name was changed from the comic book but it doesn't change how powerful her performance was. This girl was put through the emotional ringer in this film and you take that ride with her every step of the way. Exarchopoulos plays Adèle with the deer in the headlights attitude. She spends a lot of the time mousing around and looking intimidated by everything. Even when she's with Emma her demeanor is very muted. This is a byproduct of her character learning how to adjust to her life and experiencing everything it has to offer. She's adjusting to her new found sexuality and coming to grips with all that it entails.

Including her immense love for Emma.

This comes out masterfully in the scene pictured above.

Minor spoilers so consider yourself warned.

This scene takes place when Adèle and Emma hang out for the first time. Adèle's attraction to Emma is all over her face and as they are about to say goodbye to each other Adèle has this expression on her face that is screaming/begging KISS ME! Emma kisses her on the cheek and as you can see in the pic, Adèle is disappointed. The sexual tension between the two of them in this scene was palpable. Especially in Adèle. Her desire for Emma was as blatant as you could get and in this moment it was not returned. This is the beginning of Adèle's introduction to the world of love and relationships. She learns in this scene that her lust for Emma needs to be tempered otherwise failed expectations could have unfortunate consequences.
Now I can't continue this review without giving Léa Seydoux some love as well. Adèle Exarchopoulos is the unquestionable star of the show in my opinion. However, Seydoux is the established actress among the two leads and it showed. Her performance was equally stunning and strong. Emma though butchy in appearance is far from it. Her beauty shines through as much as Exarchopoulos. Seydoux also complements Exarchopoulos when on screen together. At first she's the alpha woman, then as the film moves forward, a balance begins to materialize, and you see how beautiful a couple these two women make. That doesn't happen without the matching performance from Seydoux. She plays Emma with the right amount of maturity while succumbing to the undeniable, raw and unmatched sexual chemistry that these two shared. The scene in the bar towards the end explains what I mean to a "T".

When the film progresses into their relationship you can see the evolution of Adèle's life with Emma. She's much more comfortable in her skin and takes things as they come. Both of their lives travel down the paths they set for each other. Then things change between Act 3 and the end. The film goes into predictable territory and would have been seen by me as problematic but this film was so all consuming for me that I went with it because it was a natural turning point. It's in these moments where Exarchopoulos truly shines. This girl literally wore her heart on her sleeve and it comes through in every frame.

Her performance touches your soul and takes you into her heart.

You feel for her. You care for her. You cry for her. You root for her. The film pushes and pulls her to every conceivable limit which begged the question how in the world is this going to end for her. There were several possible outcomes which seemed logical but the one Kechiche chose was not only the right one. 

It was BRILLIANT!

Of course I won't say how Adèle's story ends. All I will say that it was the only way that would have satisfied me because it depicted how real life changes people and their situations. It was perfect way to stamp out Adèle's emotional journey that I took with her for the 3 hours I was in the art house theater.

The bottom line is simply this. Blue Is the Warmest Color is a film that MUST be seen. This movie is not about the sex. It's about the way two women deal with something much more powerful and equally damaging.

The L Word!

On the 5 star scale. Blue Is the Warmest Color gets the full house. 5 stars with a resounding "Worth Every Penny!" recommendation.

That's a wrap for today.

Until Next Episode...."I'll Save You A Seat!"

"D"