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Bookmark this pageWater Lilies (2007)
Director: Céline Sciamma
Movie review
From Time Out London
Languid, sorrowful and strange, French filmmaker Céline Sciamma’s debut as a feature writer-director is a sensitive and daring portrait of female adolescence that’s curious about all longings, sexual confusions and grey areas of desire. The Parisian suburbs and, especially, the guys and gals of a local synchronised-swimming club offer Sciamma a distinct canvas on which to plant Marie (Pauline Acquart), Anne (Louise Blachère) and Floriane (Adele Haenel), three 15-year-olds at once different and the same.Anne is large, awkward, desperate to sleep with a boy, but childish; Floriane is good-looking, flirtatious, confident, with a reputation for putting it about; Marie is quiet and watchful, small and pretty, the hardest to make judgements about. Each is trying to find some resolution and comfort in their feelings. It’s Marie with whom we travel, our guide from poolside (such beautiful underwater sequences) to club to bedroom.
Marie grows apart from Anne when she encounters Floriane at the local pool and willingly follows her around. Is Marie’s gaze one of fascination at Floriane’s maturity? Or is Anne simply falling in love?
Author: Dave Calhoun
Time Out London 1960 March 12 - 18
User reviews of this film
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- Jules said...
- Posted on Jan 03 2009 11:05 Doesn't quite work. A film that has the pain of exploitation as a sub-theme, as Marie is led on by Floriane, itself exploits the actors in a borderline pornographic fashion. If I could have empathised with anyone it might have got me emotionally, but the characters are paper-thin. It's a short film (84 minutes); an extra 15 minutes spent on character development might have paid off.
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- chris said...
- Posted on Apr 23 2008 14:34 A wonderful film - I was astonished to discover this is Sciamma's directorial debut. The subject matter is portrayed with a subtlety and originality rarely seen in English or American teen films. The actors are all superb, but I found Pauline Acquart's performance particularly poignant and genuinely moving. I loved the syth-based soundtrack too - it perfectly compliments the film's distinctively simple visual backdrop.
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- Tanya said...
- Posted on Mar 14 2008 11:17 I loved this film!
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- Jude said...
- Posted on Mar 14 2008 10:08 A beautiful, funny and brilliantly acted film. I highly recommend it.
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- Alicia said...
- Posted on Mar 14 2008 09:43 Very moving and beautifully crafted film.
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- stuart said...
- Posted on Mar 13 2008 11:41 The comment you type in this box
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- iiMK said...
- Posted on Mar 12 2008 13:24 Funny, sorrowful and inspiring. A relaxed and natural performance. Well done!
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- xxx said...
- Posted on Dec 18 2007 20:19 A stunning film, both very funny and moving.
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Cast & crew
Director: Céline Sciamma
Cast: Pauline Acquart, Adèle Haenel, Louise Blachere
Rated: 15
Duration: 84 mins
UK Release: Mar 14 2008
US Release: Aug 15 2007
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