Blue Is the Warmest Color

film by Kechiche [2013]

Also known as: “La Vie d’Adéle”

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July 21, 2026

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Blue Is the Warmest Color is a 2013 French coming-of-age film directed by Abdellatif Kechiche. The movie follows the relationship between Adèle, a young woman, and Emma, an art student with blue hair. The film won the Palme d'Or at the Cannes film festival, with the award shared by the director and the two lead actresses, Léa Seydoux and Adèle Exarchopoulos.1

Despite critical acclaim, the film faced controversy. Critics pointed to its lengthy sex scenes, which some found voyeuristic and unrealistic. Seydoux and Exarchopoulos also described the director's on-set behavior as "horrible". The film is based on Julie Maroh's graphic novel of the same name.21

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Léa Seydoux
International acclaim: Blue Is the Warmest Color
…attention for their performances in Blue Is the Warmest Color. Directed by Abdellatif Kechiche, the three-hour coming-of-age film follows the relationship and breakup between the wide-eyed Adèle (Exarchopoulos) and the charismatic, more-experienced Emma (Seydoux). At Cannes, Kechiche, Seydoux, and Exarchopoulos were all awarded the Palme d’Or in recognition of their…
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…attention for their performances in Blue Is the Warmest Color. Directed by Abdellatif Kechiche, the three-hour coming-of-age film follows the relationship and breakup between the wide-eyed Adèle (Exarchopoulos) and the charismatic, more-experienced Emma (Seydoux). At Cannes, Kechiche, Seydoux, and Exarchopoulos were all awarded the Palme d’Or in recognition of their…
Read More