La Vie d'Adèle - Chapitres 1 & 2 [BLUE IS THE WARMEST COLOR]
(2013)
Directed by- Abdellatif Kechiche
Written by- Abdellatif Kechiche, Ghalia Lacroix
*Adèle Exarchopoulos, Léa Seydoux
Palm d'Or winner Blue is the Warmest Color is a masterful film which touches upon a plethora of themes, both visual and philosophical. Abdellatif Kechiche keenly explores the life of a teenager as she undergoes a phase of experimentation, transition and ultimately, liberation.
In a beautiful instance of love at first sight, Adèle is passionately intrigued by a blue-haired girl she passes by on the street. Later she meets her in a gay bar and they instantly fall for each other. What follows is a tender love story which is driven by phenomenal performances from the two leads.
But Blue is the Warmest Color isn't just a love story of two lesbians, it is also an expertly made film which explores philosophy, art and even food. It has this exquisite flavor which never fades and continues to grow through the film.
The life of Adèle is real, so are her relationships, desires and dilemmas. Her unquenchable want for Emma, even until the end is genuine and never does the film betray that wonderful sentiment.
Their passion burns like the sun, a metaphor which is literally captured in a scene where the two kiss with the sun shining from behind between their intertwined lips. But this passion, like all passions doesn't last forever and the two continue on their separate ways, with Adèle teaching in a school and Emma working on her art.
The color blue forms a very evident theme, with its essence captured in every single frame of the movie. But there's also the whites and the reds which provide a nice contrast and add to the palette of this visually delicious film.
The cinematography is superb and communicates the director's uncompromising vision perfectly.
Also, the acting from both leads is flawless. Adèle becomes Adèle and superbly brings the slightly awkward and beautifully cute girl to life, though the director must also be credited for getting under her skin and unsheathing this deeply personal performance.
Léa Seydoux does a great job as well, and simply belongs to this role.
But it is the direction from Abdellatif Kechiche which towers over all in this delicately made film. He pays crucial attention to every detail and carves an incredible film from a graphic novel. It is beautiful, interesting and profound, and despite a seemingly 'household' vibe never loosens its vice-grip on your attention.
Another French film from last year which I liked was Asghar Farhadi's The Past, in which too the urban surroundings formed an integral part of the film and the camerawork was used brilliantly to mesh the feelings with the sets. Blue is the Warmest Color does this with a greater expertise and brings out the emotions superbly through mise en scène.
The sex does seem to be a tad ostentatious after the first couple of times it's shown and could really have been weeded out to fit with the personal narrative, but I'm not complaining.
Overall, a deeply satisfying film which deftly explores the confusions and apprehensions of homosexuality and transcends that to tell the beautiful story of youth.
Rating- 4.4/5
(2013)
Directed by- Abdellatif Kechiche
Written by- Abdellatif Kechiche, Ghalia Lacroix
*Adèle Exarchopoulos, Léa Seydoux
Palm d'Or winner Blue is the Warmest Color is a masterful film which touches upon a plethora of themes, both visual and philosophical. Abdellatif Kechiche keenly explores the life of a teenager as she undergoes a phase of experimentation, transition and ultimately, liberation.
In a beautiful instance of love at first sight, Adèle is passionately intrigued by a blue-haired girl she passes by on the street. Later she meets her in a gay bar and they instantly fall for each other. What follows is a tender love story which is driven by phenomenal performances from the two leads.
But Blue is the Warmest Color isn't just a love story of two lesbians, it is also an expertly made film which explores philosophy, art and even food. It has this exquisite flavor which never fades and continues to grow through the film.
The life of Adèle is real, so are her relationships, desires and dilemmas. Her unquenchable want for Emma, even until the end is genuine and never does the film betray that wonderful sentiment.
Their passion burns like the sun, a metaphor which is literally captured in a scene where the two kiss with the sun shining from behind between their intertwined lips. But this passion, like all passions doesn't last forever and the two continue on their separate ways, with Adèle teaching in a school and Emma working on her art.
The color blue forms a very evident theme, with its essence captured in every single frame of the movie. But there's also the whites and the reds which provide a nice contrast and add to the palette of this visually delicious film.The cinematography is superb and communicates the director's uncompromising vision perfectly.
Also, the acting from both leads is flawless. Adèle becomes Adèle and superbly brings the slightly awkward and beautifully cute girl to life, though the director must also be credited for getting under her skin and unsheathing this deeply personal performance.
Léa Seydoux does a great job as well, and simply belongs to this role.
But it is the direction from Abdellatif Kechiche which towers over all in this delicately made film. He pays crucial attention to every detail and carves an incredible film from a graphic novel. It is beautiful, interesting and profound, and despite a seemingly 'household' vibe never loosens its vice-grip on your attention.
Another French film from last year which I liked was Asghar Farhadi's The Past, in which too the urban surroundings formed an integral part of the film and the camerawork was used brilliantly to mesh the feelings with the sets. Blue is the Warmest Color does this with a greater expertise and brings out the emotions superbly through mise en scène.
The sex does seem to be a tad ostentatious after the first couple of times it's shown and could really have been weeded out to fit with the personal narrative, but I'm not complaining.
Overall, a deeply satisfying film which deftly explores the confusions and apprehensions of homosexuality and transcends that to tell the beautiful story of youth.
Rating- 4.4/5
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