Saw Blue is the Warmest Color (thanks, Basil!) It was a French romance following a young lesbian becoming aware of her sexuality and finding her first girlfriend at the same time. It was a sweet film, capturing not only the thrill of first romance but also the intricate complexity of longer-term relationships. I recognized and loved the nervousness of the protagonist stepping into a gay bar for the first time. The excitement but also the dread. The stakes are higher and the game is for keeps now. Well-observed, well-acted stuff.
I enjoyed the film's slow deliberate pace and quietly explosive performances. The naturalistic style stops it from being truly operatically melodramatic, but the sudden silences and quiet mumbled words almost speak louder than shouts and thrown dishes. Apparently the director tortured the actresses a bit to get these performances, demanding hundreds of retakes and I think that's really a bit much (they are professional actresses, you know) but you can't argue with the results.
I've read some condemnations of this film, claiming it was essentially soft-core lesbian porn for straight men and I can see where those criticisms are coming from. The protagonist is a makeup-less but very pretty girl and her girlfriend is kind of tomboyish but also quite attractive. The sex scenes are protracted (I mean) and there aint no 200 pound bull-dyke ushering this blossoming young lady into womanhood. In fact I can't recall anyone at all in the film who is physically ugly. Whatever. This isn't as progressive as it might be. It is however extremely touching and sweet, if perhaps straight-washed a tad.
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