But once it collapses, Adèle experiences the motions of heartache so viscerally that the audience feels them with her.
For Adèle, her relationship with Emma kept her grounded, and other elements of her life became obsolete. Many LGBTQ films don’t always end well for their lead couples, but Blue Is the Warmest Color depicts the aftermath of its breakup with a depth that can be appreciated. Out of loneliness, Adèle cheats on Emma with a male colleague, and their relationship disintegrates from there. Even though love brought them together, the two slowly realize they have little in common, causing them to drift apart. While Emma is aware of her identity and desires, Adèle carries a vibe of uncertainty.
When the couple attends a Pride parade - an environment free of judgement as well as a celebration of same-sex love - Adèle’s dancing gradually becomes more dynamic, and she feels more comfortable embracing her girlfriend in the crowd. Their connection also inspires Adèle, who is quite shy, to loosen up. In one scene that entirely focuses on kissing, the sun beams on the women’s faces directly, evoking the exhilarating bliss that only love can achieve. The camera concentrates on faces and bodies, amplifying the euphoric intimacy of their moments together. As revealed through long gazes and rapturous grins, they’re completely invested in one another, always desperate to absorb each other’s likes, dislikes and motivations. After a confusing time of thinking that a part of her was missing, there’s no better feeling than her identity becoming clear, making other aspects of life fall into place.Įmma and Adèle’s conversations are just as electrifying as their romance, which couldn’t have been accomplished without the actresses’ natural delivery. It’s reassurance and validation that there’s nothing wrong with women being attracted to women, and that it’s deserving of acceptance - not just in the world overall, but in her world. Take whoever loves you.” In that exact moment, Adèle needs to hear those words. A man standing next to Adèle tells her, “Love has no gender. When Adèle notices a group of women from a nearby lesbian bar, the pulsating techno in the background blends into a lush, dream-like beat, suggesting that she’s finally found what she was looking for.
One night, a friend takes her out to a gay club - it’s a world she knows nothing about, but she’s curious to learn more.
Adèle has encountered a lingering emptiness in her life, but it’s her intense attraction to Emma that makes her whole.Īdèle’s coming out process undoubtedly feels extremely relatable for anyone who has ever experienced it. To the teenage girl, Emma’s blue hair is like a sea, whose waves wash away all of the commotion around them. It’s as if the two women are the only beings in the middle of the walkway, no crowd. In the beginning, after listening to an excerpt from Pierre de Marivaux’s La Vie de Marianne, the audience receives a question to contemplate: “When you exchange glances, like with love at first sight, is there something less or more in your heart?” When Adèle (Adèle Exarchopoulos) exchanges initial glances with Emma (Léa Seydoux) while crossing the street - one of the 2013 drama’s most famous scenes - she experiences a rush of emotions. Abdellatif Kechiche’s Blue Is the Warmest Color displays a raw and affecting observation of identity, passion and heartache.