Blue is the Warmest Colour

The Palme d'Or at 2013's Cannes film festival went to the passionate love story Blue Is the Warmest Colour. But this year, the award was not awarded to the director alone. Instead, Abdellatif Kechiche was to share the award with his two young stars, Léa Seydoux and Adèle Exarchopoulos. Blue is the Warmest Colour, alternatively and perhaps more appropriate titled 'La Vie De Adele: Chapters 1 & 2', chronicles the life of young Adèle, following her transition from a shy high-schooler to young teacher, and her intense love affair with worldly art student Emma. At the beginning of the love affair Emma has bright blue hair, as the love between the two fade so does the blue. 

Although most discussion of the film has centered around its controversial sex scenes, the best bits occur in the second half, which is sex-free. Adèle and Emma are now a fully formed couple, and Emma’s paintings are on the verge of attracting big money. Adele is a humble, but happy, nursery school teacher. Different worlds, different interests and different ideals lead to jealousy, jealousy drives Adele to cheat, and the relationship crumbles to dust. Both have immense trouble with letting go and there is plenty of heartbreak, fantastically delivered from both Seydoux and Exarchopoulos. 

At the end of the film, viewers are left with the stark reality that there is no guarantee that either Adèle or Emma will ever find anything as good ever again after their love is gone. This is not a story about young love or first love, it is about love. Powerful, unstoppable love that consumes and devours. This truly is an outstanding film and the performances from Exarchopoulos and Séydoux are incomparable and perfect. Blue is the Warmest Colour offers so much more than the much discussed sex scenes; there are class boundaries, pedagogical debates, a moving anti-austerity march. So, set aside three hours and experience a love story like no other.