Review of Blue Is the Warmest Color (2013) by Michele B — 13 Oct 2017

Remember The Deerhunter? Well, this is nothing like The Deerhunter. But it does remind me of one of those good old seventies films that gently unfolds rather than is overtly directed - how they were before films went all corporate. It's a snapshot of the life of Adéle, during that fertive period of graduating and starting a career; gradually discovering who she is and what her place in the world, her supple young mind getting to grips with ideas of art, literature,philosophy and, indeed, politics - and there are some inspirational gems presented here in a charmingly understated fashion, that makes the easy, natural conversation the film contains quite fascinating. Midst it all she is discovering who her real friends are, what her own values and how to cut free and follow them, and her own sexuality. She learns one of life's hardest lessons - she gets her heart broke.

Now, she didn't become the youngest person ever to win the Cannes Film Festival 'Palme d'Or' award (and 37 other nominations) purely for her willingness to bare everything - and I do mean EVERYTHING!- but the break up scene with her lesbian lover is gut-wrenching, raw, intense stuff. You feel her pain. An incredible performance, it's like it's happening for real right before your eyes, a lightning bolt caught on camera.

Three hours is normally a tad long for me, and if they had cut the sex scenes it would have been a more normal length film - that's how much bare-ass, steamy, getting it on there is in this film! It's French after all. But it all does set the scene for just how deeply Adèle falls for this, her first, love. That's my excuse anyway. She's also fit as. Just sayin.

No CGI, no intricate plot, no panoramic camera work, but a story that feels real and a performance of unbridled raw emotion. Can't recommend this film enough.