Review 246: "Blue Is the Warmest Color"

It's French!

Blue Is the Warmest Review

      Blue Is the Warmest Color is a 2013 French film based on a graphic novel by Julie Maroh and won the Palme d'Or at Cannes this last year. The film is directed by Abdellatif Kechiche and was partially written by him, along with Ghalia Lacroix. The film follows young Adele (Adele Exarchopoulos) as she falls in love with Emma (Lea Seydoux), marking both her first real love and her first interest in another woman. As their love takes it's ups and downs, Adele begins to grow and learn about the real ways of the world.

BLUE!

Those Awkward Moments

       Blue Is the Warmest Color is a film that will likely get seen by many "casual" filmgoers, despite being a three-hour long french romance. And unfortunately, it won't be because of the fact that the film is fantastic nor for the dramatic behind-the-scenes incidents. No, it will be because of all the explicit lesbian sex in the film. Yeah, no real easy way to mention those. Yes, they are very well done. The scenes are so intense that it feels awkward being on the same planet as another person while watching this, and the scenes are so intimate that this is a real feeling that we shouldn't watching what we're seeing. But those scenes, which being a straight guy, I thought were nice, are only one small component of the film. Despite the troubling direction Kechiche subjected the actors to, supposedly, the film is simply fantastic.

Star Bright

      The real reason Blue Is the Warmest Color is a winner is because of the two fantastic leads. Exarchopoulos and Seydoux are magnificent as the duo in love. Within minutes of meeting them and you are hooked into their lives. All the twists and turns of their love inspires genuine matching feelings in the audience. When they're happy, we're happy. When their sad, we're sad. Wanting to see how their story turns out easily gets the audience through the dangerous three hours runtime. It felt like nothing at all and I gladly would have watched more. The film smartly showcases the characters is usually quiet moments, with just people talking and interacting, trusting the characters, writing and actors to make us interesting. A task it does break a sweat completing.

BLUE!!!!!!!

The Verdict

      Blue Is the Warmest Color is a fantastic movie that celebrate love and life with great characters and actors to match. Never dull, even with a three hours runtime and bad behind-the-scenes drama, the film is a genuine great time, even if you think three-hour long french romances aren't your thing. Blue Is the Warmest Color gets 6 stars out of 6.