Blue Is The Warmest Colour Review

Blue Is The Warmest Colour-
film of the year

I first read all the rave reviews earlier on in the year when the film Blue Is The Warmest Colour won the prestigious Palme d'Or award at the Cannes Film Festival. An inevitable call of success, which also opened up a can of worms. The film's talented director, Abdellatif Kechiche came under fire for apparently ruling the roost with terrorising demands, excessive scene takes and production payment fiasco's. Nonetheless, it didn't dim my hopes when it came to watching this masterpiece.

In quick summary, ( A LOT happens) it features Adele Exarchopoulos as her namesake, Adele- a quiet, curiously intelligent teenager who feels there's something missing from her life when she can't seem to enjoy her sexual experiences with the handsome boy who seems to be so into her. She breaks things off with him, much to the surprise of her friends and more importantly- herself. She feels an insatiable thirst for something- something she feels is missing. Something she feels could be completed with her intrigue for blue haired, gap-toothed Emma (Lea Seydoux). They meet at a gay bar after Adele wanders off when her friend takes her out to blow of some steam. They immediately become taken with each other, depicted ever so furiously in extended scenes of intense, passionate sex. In theory, lines should be crossed with such depiction, but the feeling is raw, the aura authentic. A watchable feast for the eyes.

Inevitably, their journey doesn't come without turmoil. Adele loses her group of friends almost instantly when they see her talking to Emma at the beginning of their relationship outside their school. There's an angry eruption of teenage girls clawing at each other, spewing words of ignorance and in return, cries of denial. Compelling to watch. The film fast forwards without warning, and they are now living together. Adele is satisfied with a teaching role and supporting Emma's artistic career. She is also Emma's muse, posing nude in a series of artistic endeavors. However, as Emma becomes more and more immersed in her art, the relationship begins to suffer. This results in Adele engaging in a meaningless affair with a handsome suitor from her work. Emma is quick to find out and the relationship deteriorates for good. The scene where Emma is kicking Adele out of her house is painfully real and draws you in like a hawk. These are real emotions, both me and you have felt at some points in our lives.

The controversial director Abdellatif Kechiche 

In terms of the acting, it is quite literally something I haven't seen before. Taking into account Adele's teenage years and her conviction in portraying everything from the hapless splurging on her spaghetti to the runny nose, constant toying of her hair frustration when things spiral out of control- she is quite simply, a genius. Both actresses are ridiculously favourable in their roles, enchanting the audience and captivating a sort of authenticity other actors can only dream of. The only downside to the film was its length-3 hours! I felt as if there were quite a few scenes that were irrelevant and could be cut out to take the length of the film down significantly. On the other hand, I do understand that the director was attempting to really take us into Adele's life from the huge, important scenes, to the ones where she ran for the bus. All in all, Blue Is The Warmest Colour may have come with its hiccups behind the scenes that has threatened to steal the limelight, but as far as I’m concerned no good things come without a bit of a struggle.

What did you think of 'Blue Is The Warmest Colour?