13 Dec 2013 – 5 Jan 2014
★★★★★ Guardian
★★★★★ Time Out
Discoveries at the Cannes Film Festival come in all shapes and sizes, but this year Abdellatif Kechiche’s (Couscous) entry was like a bolt from the blue.
Nobody was expecting something quite as extraordinary as this. Adapted from Julie Maroh’s graphic novel, Blue is the Warmest Colour tells the story of Adèle, a schoolgirl who finds herself captivated by a pretty, punky, blue-haired stranger. This is Emma, a confident art student who is wholly comfortable with her sexuality. The pair’s relationship deepens as Adèle becomes Emma’s friend, lover, flatmate and uninhibited muse. Delivering utterly fearless and commanding performances, the two actresses stay true to the power of real humanity even as they head for the choppy waters of intense emotion.
Director: Abdellatif Kechiche. Starring: Adèle Exarchopoulos, Léa Seydoux. France 2013. 180 mins. French with English subtitles.