Blue is the Warmest Color

Marie's out of town for the weekend so I just got done watching a three hour French film about a gorgeous young lesbian.

Blue is the Warmest Color received a standing ovation and the Palm d'Or at Cannes last year. Both Director and Lead Actress won. So needless to say, it's a pretty fucking big deal.

Its content has been highly divisive amongst viewers. Some countries have banned it due to its graphic and gratuitous lesbian scenes, while other countries have suggested it be shown in high schools due to its realistic coming-of-age content.

I thought it was fucking great. It's incredibly French. There's plenty of wine, art, smoking and philosophical discussion. If it were any older you know they'd be going on about Indo-Chine and Dizzy Gillespie.

There's a clear lineage from the Nouvelle Vague. It has a documentary feel to it. Like 400 Blows meets Breathless meets Jules et Jim, but directed by Bertolucci (for the intense sexuality).

The soundtrack is mostly world music. Afro-Cuban stuff. But there's some dance music thrown in, too, when appropriate.

Good cinematography. Good framing and tight shots. Well edited. But the real star was Adèle Exarchoupoulos. She was brilliant.

I could look at her lips all day long.

The only chick who makes smoking look sexy.

This was the first photo I saw of her. Good god.