Steven Spielberg, while chairing the Cannes jury that gave this film last year's top honors, said "we were absolutely spellbound by the brilliance of the performances, by those amazing young actresses". I'll agree with that.
This French film, 3 hours long and rated NC-17 for explicit sex scenes, is adapted from an erotic graphic novel. But, it may as well have been adapted from a celebrated work of literature. It's got a depth of feeling and a sensitivity to its characters that qualifies it as high art.
The story is about one young woman, or maybe girl is the more precise term here - she's in high school, and her age is not specified - entering into a romantic and sexual relationship with a slightly older woman. And then the relationship plays itself out, as most do. There's nothing especially startling or shocking about the story. The film is notable not for what happens, but for how effectively it pulls us into it and makes us feel it.
Adele Exarchopoulos is outstanding, I would say amazing, in the lead role here. She's a striking young woman and those looks are used to great effect by a director who was arguably abusive ... who had her so immersed in the role that not only tears flow in one scene, but also running snot from her nose. (Which he then ordered the other actress to lick up ... which she did not). This performance really deserved an Oscar; surprisingly she wasn't even nominated.
The film is defined to many by its sex scenes, which are under criticism for being extraneous, and for resembling male-fantasy pornography more than they resemble actual encounters between woman. Both criticisms are well-placed. The sex scenes are ridiculous, and will make some viewers uncomfortable with the movie. But to me they don't distract much from the great film that surrounds them. Rating : A-.
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