Tuesday, November 12, 2013

Blue is the Warmest Color

It’s happened to all of us. We pass someone on the street – we look at them and they look at us, but we both keep walking, wondering What If. That moment of chance hits Adèle (Adèle Exarchopoulos) when she passes by a captivating blue-haired woman early in Blue is the Warmest Color. They look at each other, and Adèle becomes immediately intoxicated. Confusion sets in. Suddenly, boys giving her warm looks in class don’t produce the same thrill they used to. Female friends talking about their sexual conquests are no longer amusing. But Adèle can’t place it. She can’t understand these new, conflicted feelings of passion and love.

It is in these extended, tediously patient opening scenes that we witness teenage angst at its most real. Because the film is three remarkable hours long, writer/director Abdellatif Kechiche makes clear from the beginning that he’s going to take his time. Instead of having Adèle explain her confusions and desires, we’re asked to watch and judge for ourselves.

It’s nearly an hour into the film when Adèle is properly introduced to Emma (Léa Seydoux), the mysterious lady in blue. Emma, sensing exactly what motivates Adèle’s uncertainty, slowly presents herself to Adèle in the kindest, most open way possible. What develops is a passionate affair initially based on carnal desire, that slowly morphs into true love. That love that nags and picks at you. That love that finds absence maddening, and presence life affirming. 
Because of the film’s length, I should feel safe telling you where love takes Adèle and Emma. I should be able to explain more of the story, without fear of spoiling anything essential. But here’s my dilemma: everything in Blue is the Warmest Color is essential. I found the film’s uniqueness so refreshing that to ruin any more here would be a violation. So instead, I’ll harp on why this film, and its unapologetic approach, is exactly the kind of film we need at this exact time.   

Most obvious to the film’s success is its two stars, who give truly fearless and nuanced performances. I was so fascinated by Adèle’s motivations – at times urging her to take a leap of faith, and other times infuriated by her irresponsibility. Seydoux’s confidence proves to be the perfect counter to Exarchopoulos’ tormented confusion. Emma is strong, but never afraid to let her humility seep through. Collectively, these women deliver two of the most mesmerizing performances I’ve seen in quite some time. You simply can’t take your eyes off them.

Vital to the strength of Blue is the Warmest Color are the many dangerous decisions Kechiche made to tell this tale his own way. For one, most all of the film is shot in very tight close-up, which consistently produces a claustrophobic effect. There are no master shots to set the scene, no breaks in the extended narrative to allow us to catch our breath. Kechiche immerses us in a world of hope and pain, and never pretends to look away. The technique will be off-putting to some, but it makes for a startling reveal when, on occasion, Kechiche opts to literally step back. For example, I never knew just how effective a shot of a girl sitting alone on a bench could be until I saw this movie. Most all of Adèle’s scenes take place with just her face on the screen, but when the film stood back momentarily, it revealed a full understanding of the isolation that often accompanies love.
Another time the camera stands back is during the film’s extended and graphic sex scenes. Much of these scenes do indeed take place with just Exarchopoulos and Seydoux’s faces in frame, but occasionally, Kechiche’s camera positions itself on the other side of the room. Because of this, feminists have blasted Kechiche’s style as misogynistic and reductive. I personally felt that those scenes helped convey what Kechiche was trying to convey throughout: love at its most raw.

In fact, too much has been made about those scenes in the press. Since the film won top honors at the Cannes Film Festival earlier this year, its frank deception of sex, along with Kechiche’s controlling directing style, has dominated the media. That’s a shame. Sex is just one part of the anguished notion of love. A notion Kechiche realized in his film beautifully. I do sympathize with the film’s stars, who claim that Kechiche all but tortured them to get the performances he wanted, but I hope it’s some consolation that their efforts have not gone unnoticed. Together, everyone involved with Blue is the Warmest Color made an exceptional and hypnotic film. One that I suspect will remain entrenched in my mind for as long as I’ll allow it. And probably a good long while after that too. A 

32 comments:

  1. I wish this was playing somewhere near where I lived but unfortunately it looks like I'll just have to wait until it's released on DVD. It sounds really interesting and this review really makes me suspect that all the hype it's been getting (not just because of the sex scene) is deserved. How I envy you living on the other side of the country and being able to see all these amazing films.

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    1. It has been great living in LA, being able to see any movie whenever I want. But I've actually had to be careful, because movies out here are expensive. Gotta choose wisely!

      Anyway, yes, Blue is an amazing film, and I really think you'd like it. Hope it comes your way soon!

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  2. Such a beautiful movie; heck, one of the most beautiful movies of first love I've seen in awhile. And not just in terms of same-sex first love, I just mean the idea and feeling of first love in general. Nice review Alex.

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    1. Oh yeah, this is easily one of the best first love films I've ever seen. Thanks for the comment, Dan.

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  3. I really enjoyed the film as I'm glad it's getting some attention for how good it is. I think the controversy over the sex scenes is really over nothing. I was enjoying myself though I knew why it was presented in that way. I don't think it's misogynistic at all.

    I also loved the use of close-ups that Kechiche created as well as the fact that he took his time w/ the story. It didn't feel like a 3-hour film at all and I think it's one of the reasons why it worked. I just hope it gets some Oscar nods.

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    1. I didn't think the scenes were misogynistic either. But I do think they present a sort of window for certain people to get heated, so heated they become. Oh well.

      I agree, it didn't feel like 3 hours at all. Some Oscar love would be great.

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  4. Fantastic review Alex. Not a film that's getting massive exposure over here yet but I'm really interested in checking it out, sounds like a really interesting character study.

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    1. Thanks man! Oh, it is a fascinating character study. Truly. Really hope this one comes your way soon. It is remarkable.

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  5. This sounds terrific -- adding it to my list.

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  6. I can't wait to see this. So often movies are remakes and rehashings of the same old thing. It's excited that something with a fresher perspective has been done, and done well. Thanks for not giving too much away!

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    1. I love that movies like this remind us that FRESH cinema is still possible. This is unlike anything I've ever seen. I think it'd be criminal to give more away than I did!

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  7. Great review! I'm hoping to see this as well, one of the theaters around here is pretty good at getting French movies. I can hold out hope they get this one.

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    1. Thanks! Hope it comes your way see. It is sensational.

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  8. I haven't seen the film, but I've followed the news stories. At first the actresses were proud of what was onscreen, but under the onslaught of constant criticism they finally backtracked and started blaming the director for making them do that. It happens quite often.

    If ever there was a strong, confident actress it was Sharon Stone in the 1980s. She knew what was being filmed in Basic Instinct when she recrossed her legs and for several months after it was released she pushed back on all attacks on her for participating in it. Even she eventually caved and changed her story to be that she had no idea what the director was filming in that scene.

    French director Jean-Claude Brisseau did the 2002 film Secret Things about two women taking back their sexual power over men. The film was controversial for being sexually frank. Eventually the two actresses claimed he browbeat them into doing the movie. The plot of his next film - The Exterminating Angels - was a semi-autobiographical tale of a film director searching for actresses who could convey the sexual power and frankness he wanted in his films and then how one of them caves psychologically afterwards and blames him for destroying her.

    There is still a negative standard for actresses that are sexual on screen and they become lightning rods for some people's condemnation. It's regrettable, but understandable when they retreat to the protection of making the director the bad guy.

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    1. I'm fully behind this comment. Your last paragraph is spot on. There's a weird sort of double standard/backtracking thing that often takes place in these situations. It goes from being supportive of the film, to convincing people that you were exploited. Very interesting. But still, this is a fascinating film that deserves to be remembered for more than this current controversy.

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  9. You know, it's weird maybe, but all the close-ups never felt claustrophobic to me. It just felt.....intimate. This might be even weirder to say, but I felt like I was Adele's parent or guardian, and every choice she was making was directly affecting me. I felt so close to her, and so worried for her.

    I love how you say everything in the film is essential. It's really true, isn't it? I don't even think I realize it took an hour for the two of them to actually speak I was so engrossed. So much of it is of the everyday life variety, but still feels so urgent.

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    1. Ohh I'm right there with you, I thought the whole style of the film was extremely intimate. I was never claustrophobic, but I could understand how people might be, you know?

      I loved this film so much. It hasn't dared to leave my mind.

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  10. Glad you dug it man. I haven't even watched the trailer, so I'll come back and read your review in full after I've seen the film.

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    1. Hell yeah man. So good. Hope this one makes it your way soon. What a powerful work of art.

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    2. Terrific review. Just saw it last night, and it's a very powerful film. The performances are so raw, so devastating. Exarchopoulos is probably my pick for Best Actress, but I'm holding out for Binoche's performance in Camille Claudel 1915, which I should be seeing very soon.

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    3. I'm so happy you appreciated this film. Exarchopoulos is by far my pick for Best Actress. I still can't get her out of my head.

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  11. I definitely want to check this out. Not just because of the sex either! But that is all I really hear/read about (this is particularly funny/interesting - http://www.avclub.com/articles/lesbians-have-some-thoughts-about-those-sex-scenes,105408/). Great review, Alex!

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    1. Thanks man!

      Ha, I saw that too. Very interesting how some feminists are bashing the shit out of the sex in this movie. But oh well.

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  12. The screencaps are beautiful! Lovely review, I can't wait to see it.

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    1. Thanks! It is a truly gorgeous film, on a number of levels.

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  13. Glad you liked it. Lovely review. I liked a lot of this film, especially the performances and structure. Unfortunately, I just couldn't connect with any of it.

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    1. Thanks man. I can completely understand why you couldn't connect with it. It was a very tough film to love, if that makes sense. Still, definitely one of the year's best for me.

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  14. This review is great, great choice of not spoiling to much.
    This film has a lot of masterful elements and a lot of great elements but ultimately this film was just good. It had some detractions that made it less then masterful for me. Sorry, I loved the film, the performances and the story but the problems I have with the film are more then 'just personal'. This film right now isn't even in my top 12 of 2013 (which I hope to finish till July, but probably will arrive probably in November). Still good I enjoyed it and I state my problems more detailed in my review. B+

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    1. Thanks man, really glad you liked the review. It's a tough film to love, I admit. So unrelenting in its style, but it's nice to hear that you liked much of it.

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    2. I invite you to be my first commenter. Be as objective as you can.
      http://lovinfilms.blogspot.ro/2015/05/blue-is-warmest-color-la-vie-dadele.html

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