"Blue" is about one of the most beautiful love stories on the big screen that I have ever seen - if not THE most beautiful. There has been a lot of negative press before the arrival of the film in U.S. theaters. The two lead actresses - Léa Seydoux and Adele Exarchopoulos- criticized the director openly for his apparently harsh methods to film, e.g. shooting the sex scenes over and over again. Even though I read a couple of articles beforehand I tried not to be to influenced by the publicity so I could simply enjoy the film. And I was able to simply enjoy the film. The story: Adele (Exarchopoulos) is a junior in High school and meets the older art student Emma (Seydoux). The two start becoming involved, and what might start off as a harmless flirt becomes a relationship which takes place over the course of about 8 years. The relationship between the two evolves - Adele graduates from High school and starts attending university and later teaches at an Elementary school and Emma graduates from the Fine Arts University and is having her first solo exhibitions. We - the audience - observe the highs and the lows of this relationship.
The fact that no make-up or hair assistance was used on set makes the actresses appear even more "raw" and beautiful. The director often uses close up shots of the actors faces, and we see over and over again a sleeping Adele - she is gorgeous, her mouth slightly open, which creates such an intimate atmosphere, the viewer almost feels like he/she is observing her through a lens.
The sex scenes between the two have although been criticized as pornographic by some media - they earned "Blue" a NC-rating and the film is completely banned in the state of Idaho. I personally found nothing about the scenes pornographic or over the top, they simply portray two young women in love who have a deep desire for each other.
The performances by the whole cast, but especially by Seydoux and Exarchopoulos (it is considered her breakthrough performance) were outstanding. I left the theater almost sad, knowing that those two women are not a couple in real life. You want them to be in love so bad. And one can't help but develop a slight crush on the lead actress, Adele Exarchopoulos, who seems so vulnerable, so tender, so naive at times - I found myself wanting to protect her at times against the "bad" world of the adults..
Even though I got run over by my emotions at the end and cried for the last twenty minutes of the film (it is three hours long but never feels just one second too long), leaving the theater baffled - I can only recommend to watch this small film. It is a simple, beautifully shot love story in the life of Adele and I honestly don't know if there will ever be such a film with such rare, new talent. A small bonus factor - The scenes involve a lot of food, especially spaghetti.
Go watch and bon appetite!
