How to tell a queer lovestory: Celine Sciamma's WATER LILIES reaction and commentary
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- Опубліковано 14 бер 2021
- Director Celine Sciamma wrecked our collective soul with Portrait of a Lady on Fire in 2019, but prior to that, she had more than a decade's experience in filmmaking. Let's check out her debut film Water Lilies.
Water Lilies is a 2007 film depicting a French teenager Marie (Pauline Acquart) as she navigates a budding love for synchronized swimmer Floriane (Adele Haenel) and turbulence with her best friend Anne (Louise Blachère).
It's an LGBT love story, it's a great female director, it's Adele Haenel. It's a banger and a half. If you were ever young and in love, you'll get it.
Intro: Hayley Kiyoko "Curious" cover by Emma Beckett • Curious - Hayley Kiyok...
Outro: Julien Baker, "Blacktop" • ONE ON ONE: Julien Bak...
(All views expressed are from a first, mostly blind, viewing. If you feel the need to come for me, please don't) - Фільми й анімація
I believe that even though Marie is the protagonist, this film is in actuality about Floriane. The audience experiences the story through Marie's eyes and at the end she probably knows just as much as us about Floriane's true intentions. I mean, I am sure that Marie was aware of their dynamic and that Floriane might be hosting some inner demons, but she's still a teen and ones emotional and social intelligence only reaches so far at that age. That said, even though I do think Floriane feels an attraction towards Marie, what she wants most is her friendship and in that regard Marie ends up letting her down by being like ''everybody else''. Guess it sounds a bit contradictory, but to me it makes a lot of sense. She's a lonely character after all.
Using synchronize swimming as the backdrop was interesting, because the symbolism behind it is very ''in your face'' compared to the rest of the film that felt a lot more nuanced as a whole. My interpretation is that Floriane is in fact a lesbian, but she feels the need to live up to societal expectations because of her beauty. Films are often made to celebrate beauty or show it's advantages and this one wants to convey the complete opposite. There are a lot of movies that explore toxic masculinity and what kind of destruction it can cause on society or the individual. I don't believe toxic femininity is a thing, but femininity is inherently toxic when it's forced onto women and Floriane definitely took a sip of the kool-aid. The way most men and other women treat her in the film could be seen as a bit hyperbolic and stereotypical like in US high school movies, on the surface a vapid approach. Sciamma however decided to turn it into a social commentary on how female social conditioning and socialization can often lead to tragedy and ended up subverting the trope all together.
At the end when they kiss you can see that Floriane gets a lot more into the kiss than Marie does, she herself is even shocked by it and has to regain her composure so she doesn't lose control of the situation. While fixing her lipstick she gazes into a mirror which represents what she wants people to see, and what she wants reflected is her being straight.
At the end both Marie and Anne are floating together and have accepted themselves and thus will not be alone. Floriane ends up dancing by herself and is still kicking against the surface while portraying a false image of herself and within that lie she will always be alone.
Great reading! I think Floriane is so wonderfully drawn and nuanced, it's hard not to get lost in trying to decipher her character. It's really dizzying to think how symbiotic the relationship between the three really is, even to the point that each helps and hurts the others, whether intentionally or not. I guess I never really thought specifically about how Marie could possibly hurt Floriane. Thanks so much for your insight!
Thank you for your lovely review and comments here...I'm a Celine Sciamma and Adele Haenel fan and supporter. This film really speaks to me as I was also a 'Floriane' for a chunk of my life ...going along with parental and societal expectations and not being truly whom I was until much later in life....
Wow, I couldn't agree more. This is by far the most honest interpretation I have read so far for this masterpiece of a film, while also humanizing each character's perspective and background. I greatly appreciate how you discussed societal expectations, and its unforunate effects, often influencing one's actions in important decisions. This film brought up so many unspoken truths about not only the navigation of adolescence, but having the ability and bravery to accept one's own self-truths, despite any given narrative, all the while presenting the importance of having a genuine support system.
Céline's films have made such an everlasting impact within me, and I'm so grateful I discovered their beauty.🖤
Holy shit thank you for this wowow the friendship take was so insightful thank youuu
amazing interpretation!
I watched this film the other day and I haven't stopped thinking about it since because I believe it displays so many emotions and conflicts that come with growing up (whether you are queer or not). I loved how you pointed out the costume choices for these characters and I actually noticed how in the end this is so important to understand Marie and Floriane's decisions. Floriane is wearing the same blue top she wore the first time she used her power over Marie to make her a type of cover up for her, and how she obviously didn't care about Marie's feelings (even though she waited for hours for her to come back, Floriane never gave her an apology). Whereas, in Marie's case, her pink t-shirt brings back the memory of the first time she took the initiative and told Floriane she wasn't gonna wait for her again (I personally believe this is because she gets jealous and hurt after she hears what the whole team thinks of Floriane). This, to me, explains a lot when it comes to the kissing scene, where it's Marie who takes the initiative but Floriane makes it look like she doesn't care, that Marie is just a puppet at the end of the day. I have different theories about why this could be the outcome for Floriane but I guess the only real explanation is making mistakes in your adolescence. All of us have those moments in our lives when we don't really know why we do certain things, hurting ourselves and others in the process. I think that's why it made me feel so bittersweet at the end, because I expect Floriane gets a happy ending someday. Marie at least has a friend in who she trusts. Floriane has no one who looks out for her.
I have read a comment which I think is really understand the feeling in the movie, it says Floriane actually likes Marie, so she is willing to give her virginity to Marie, but Marie is immature maybe too timid and got Floriane's request literally, Marie even did not give Floriane a kiss when she "took away" her virginity, that is why Floriane teared after that, and it is also the reason Floriane said: See? It was not so difficult" after they kissed in the end.
I‘m just feel sad and regretful after I saw this film, Celine is genius and two actress were captured the psychology of teenager and performed it well.
And thanks your sharing, I love the comment you gave about Adele that she is professional but real in life.
Jesus, that tore my heart to shreds...
I never could fully figure out what Floriane meant by "so you see... It wasn't that difficult."
I thought perhaps it was a comment on how easy society viewed her to be; or maybe that she, in fact, did have requited feelings for Marie.
Interesting you say that. Now I can kinda see how Floriane’s flirtation with boys was kind of a way to purposefully make Marie jealous so that Marie could finally act on her feelings and kiss her or take her virginity.
Wait, so what are they doing in the under the blankets scene?? Im so confused like Marie’s hands were underneath doing something which I have no clue abt
@@DEADLYEARTH123 she was fngering Floriane. I don't know if you are still wondering or you already figured it out at this point hahshss
@@hanyu8421 dangWHAT
Just finally discovered Celine and her films recently. “Portrait” hit me so hard it got me searching for her other works. Thanks for posting this reaction and discussing these themes so well. I Loved this film,
Very much same
Omg, I guess high school girls are the same damn “gay for the summer” teaser’s no matter what country you live in…lol. And make their gay friends do the cringe worthy shit…..LMAO! Memory’s…..
Great film by a great director. Thank you for this video.
I agree with you, Florianne is a very complex character. I think she felt betrayed/disappointed at the end, as she may have thought she found a true 'friend' in Marie, only to realize Marie wanted the same things all the other boys wanted.
On the other hand, Marie (who we know was genuinely attracted to Florianne) was constantly being teased and hurt by Florianne's behavior.
I like that their sexuality is left open up to debate. Marie may eventually come down to terms with her attraction to girls, but I have doubts about Florianne... I think her future will be a little more troubled when it comes to relationships
This is an interpretation I would have never arrived at myself! Thank you so much for commenting!
Maybe there is a happy ending after all? Check out a short film called “Pauline” 2010, made by Celine which sounds quite autobiographical... and the couple look very much like Marie and Floriane.
You. Have. Made. My. ENTIRE. DAY.
@Koai Solano Ortiz It's hard to find.
Ugh, this movie is devastating. I love Celine Sciamma, but she sure knows how to pull at your emotions.
I had a thought about the scene in the club where they are dancing (well, at least Floriane is). I was confused why Marie was so cold during that scene as well but then it occurred to me perhaps Floriane was dancing with Marie in an attempt to get the attention of the men around her? Like Marie knew it wasn’t authentic which is why she didn’t reciprocate? The whole movie definitely brings back the complicated feelings of high school 😅
That's definitely a good hypothesis for the scene! There was another comment that suggested that Marie shuts up because she's embarrassed/confused by the sudden open display. For my money, I definitely think she has unspoken boundaries between what she feels is fun, suggestive flirting, and what is an outright admission of sexuality in a public space when she isn't out yet. Whatever the actual reason, it's part of the charm and devastation of the film that these characters have so, sooo much going on inside their heads that they will never explicitly communicate to each other, or to us as the audience.
ماسم هاذا فلم
I wish I could take credit for this but I think this anon really understood this film and it may surprise you.
To me in the way I have read Floriane's character and Adele's portrayal of her, Floriane is desperately seeking emotional and physical connection with Marie, but she experiences various moments of bravery and hesitation around it throughout the film. I always go back to Floriane initiating the handhold with Marie on the bed (chasing it even) and then her incredibly vulnerable plea to Marie to take her virginity as moments when Floriane allows herself to showcase her true desires without policing herself. But she also gets rejected by Marie in both of those moments of vulnerability (Marie keeps moving her hand away and outright tells her no when Floriane tells Marie she wants her to be her first).
In most of the other moments of the film, we see a Floriane who is focused on control/self-rationalization and who capitulates to societal norms around gender and sexuality. As an archetype, Celine crafted Floriane to be a femme fatale - so we get Floriane as the beautiful blonde who is cool, edgy, and whom other characters lust after. But we also see all the pitfalls of that. The boys on the water polo team lust after Floriane, but so do her coaches who sexually harass her. Floriane rationalizes that as a normal part of womanhood and asks Marie to share her similar experiences assuming that all girls have them (except Marie doesn't). The rest of the girls on the synchronized swimming team view Floriane as a slut because of men's interest in her and the assumption that Floriane would've capitalized on all that interest in her. Floriane does nothing to dispel those rumors, she feeds them if anything, as a way to maintain control in a very isolating experience.
In the end Floriane fights some of the toxic norms placed on her but she also continues policing herself and denying herself. Floriane seeks an older guy to lose her virginity to, but Marie saves her from going through with that, In the end, Floriane loses her virginity to someone she cares about and someone she trusts but it happens in the most clinical way possible (Adele's face in this scene is heartbreaking and her acting just phenomenal) in service of upholding the view that others already hold of her as a slut. Floriane ultimately declines to sleep with Francois but then is flirting with a different water polo guy at the next party. And when Marie finally kisses her, it presents a very unique situation: it provides Floriane the opportunity to explore something she is clearly interested in (intimacy with women in all forms - platonic, romantic, and sexual) but it also reinforces that others view Floriane as an object - even Marie.
So she rejects Marie and remains in control but denies herself in the process
i love this analysis sm omg!!!
Great video! I have never related to a character more than I have to Marie, although she has a lot more confidence. The scene where Florianne is dancing and Marie is stood still brings back so many bittersweet memories- kind of feeling you're being mocked, but so sparkly-eyed you're just swooning. Also, wanting to come clean about how you feel but being too unsure of yourself. That just hits me right in the kokoro 💔
Very very understandable! I'm at a loss in many social situations - are we meant to keep up this casual facade forever? Because I've got a whole well of emotions happening underneath here!
@@pillboxmovies I know right! By the way, I love the music video you made, perfect song choice 😊
This movie is so damn good!! Literally stumbled upon it coz of a music video thing. Celine and Adele were made for each other! This is a masterpiece that was ahead of its time!
Thank you for this commentary. I loved your reactions and insights - felt like hanging out with a perfect movie buddy. Please make more.
omg this channel is a treasure.finally someone appreciating indie cinema and gives people new perspectives on these movies. As a movie freak I’m so happy to encounter your contents.much love from Turkey♥️
i have a feeling this is going to be my new favorite channel, i love your energy and your commentary was so nice to listen to ahhh :)
I was looking for a film explanation but I cannot find so I just looked for a reaction and I love your video. I have the same reactions with you especially Ciamma's cameo. Hahahahahaha. She's so young.
This is so funny because I watched this movie the 1st time with Spanish subtitles so I only understood about 40% of the movie LOL but I still so throughly enjoyed it, and I couldn’t help but noticing how amazing the sound track was and like how “quiet” the movie was.
I was gonna watch your video after the 1st watch because I thought it was an analysis but turns out U DID A REACTION LOL so i went back and watched it in English and wowow I got so much more context.
I loved how you mentioned the “sound scape” the movie crested and how the music shows their emotion, rather than the kids, and I loved how you mentioned the socialization Floriane went though to make her think that she has to play the role the way the men view her and the way the women view her.
I’m so happy I watched the movie and this video. It was so helpful to understanding all of it. Wow I have never loved a movie this much LOL. Thank you!
Haha that's a long and winding road to finally watching the whole movie 😵 I'm glad you enjoyed it!
Dónde la viste en español
Yo la quiero ver pero no la encuentro donde
So glad I came across this video! I absolutely adore this movie and this is a great commentary
Just to add to that, your review was beautiful. The film is so complex and layered. Like you, it took some time away to really consider the emotions of what just happened to you, as the audience. Sciamma’s has always written with the audience in mind. Each of us are left to take away our own thoughts and emotions.
really love your commentary on this one. Keep it up! ❤
This is legit in my top 5 favourite movies of all time!! This movie needs more hype!! It was the first homosexual romance i ever watched, but it really hit my personal artistic taste almost perfectly.
And the fact that its about a lesbian relationship makes it awesome by default, my nickname among my friends is literally "Lesbian Jesus" because i have 20/20 gaydar and everyone i end up dating or become friends with is either bi, lesbian or closet lesbian
I LOVE the music, especially the intro and ending songs! They're so melancholic and haunting but in a neutral way (if that makes sense)
Also i love the minimal dialogue and visual storytelling. It respects the viewers intelligence, its very clear and doesn't leave anything up to interpretation, while not being super explicit.
The lighting, omg the lighting!! The muted and dull colors are amazing, then they go all in with the blue and red at the party scenes.
Im obsessed with blue lighting! It creates the best atmosphere, i literally have blue and black lights throughout my bedroom and bathroom.
Also swimming pools have a huge place in my heart. Everytime they're at the pool i literally smell and taste the water. Pools and pool bathrooms are one of my favourite places in the world, the smell of the hot water and steam from the showers, the chlorine water on the cement floors. Its so nostalgic and brings back so many memories.
exactly, i totally share your pov. this movie is so incredibly nostalgic, we can almost all relate to at least one of these characters.
i genuinely think 15:54 is the best scene in the movie. it says so much about their relationship. especially when she fixes her swimsuit. celine captured queer love in a way straight directors just can’t. like you said, there’s no chance to be coy, but i think this scene has just the right amount of “innocence if you didn’t know the context”. i love this movie so much and your review is amazing
Yeah
I loved this review so much! You analysed the characters so beautifully, I had to subscribe.
Thank you very much! I'm on course to watching all of Sciamma's feature length films on the channel, so look out for those if you're interested ✨
"Expressing desire in a clear and functional way" wish I was like that! I express my feeling in riddles or expect people to read my mind lol
I'm all about that life!
i really appreciate your commentary and this summation. found you on the POALOF reddit
I saw your comment, tysm! I have another video on Girlhood and may have some of Sciamma's other work done down the line 🤞
Love your commentary so in-depth. ❤ And you were saying you wonder this kind of story ever happen in real life. Yes it does because I had a very similar situationship when I was in collage. I met this fascinating free-spririted girl on a summer program at my school to America for 1 month. And fall head over heels for her. Her personality and the way she present herself, so confident and flamboyant. I was deeply closeted and introverted. She would tease me and let me on. And I would stole her sweater just to hold it in bed, inhale her smell and imagine she was there in my arms.
She would drag me to party and dance in the disco lights, with me timidly seating across the room and study her every move. Guys would dance around her. She would dance like no one is in the room.
We would go to classes for self study, and I would help her with her homework while she was in the other room, make out with a boy.
I was so shattered and gone crazy and force myself to online chat strangers on dating websites, with boys I don’t even like, and dirty talk with them. But deep down knowing I only did it to pretend they are her.
Out of the blue she would ask me to go get a hotel room together for the fun of it. In her words just because she is bored at school dorms and want a fun night out.
We would lay in bed together under one sheet, as her usual self with nothing but a t shirt and underwear on, but I was to shy and cowardly, so nothing happened for so many nights.
It was agony but also Ecstasy. I jumped between heaven and hell on a daily basic till my heart can no longer survive.
In the end I had to study overseas, and she has to stay in our hometown, so I finally got the courage to confess to her, she smiled and told me she knows all along.
But she didn’t get into her dream school so she started study French and after1 year went to Paris to study and now became a makeup artist and work in film industry. Sometime I can see her post her glamorous life, with her boyfriend and go on movie premiere in canne.
I miss her.
She was my water lily.
Ur commentary is one of the best I've seen
This is the most abstract film I've watched in my entire life.
Thank you so much for this video! This film has such a special place in my heart and it was amazing to hear you talk about it, especially as I know nothing about film. Your girlhood video is on my to watch list 😁
Thank you, glad to hear it! Expect Tomboy in the near future 🤞
i just watched this movie today, i was confused yet understood it in a sense. It was more of trying to understand if floraine had interest in Marie which proved to be quiet obvious or it was like you were saying RP marie as a male to be more comfortable, i’m left wondering if floraine knew Marie liked her and used her or she actually found interest in her but when she walks away to the party and marie y anne get in the pool i was utterly confused
where is this movie available?
Where did you watch the movie on?
U can see it in yt
so happy to come across your review of this beautiful film! been one of my favorites for years and surpasses Portrait for me because it holds such an important place in my life given I saw it for the first time as a teenager. completely agree with your take on Floriane at the end. I also feel she clearly displays avoidant behavior and a general fear of owning her own sexuality rather, she just wields it as a weapon in a way. There's also an element of how women are societally conditioned to relate to one another baked in here. also interesting to me all the men depicted are basically made out to be walking dicks with no conscience or real depth, which makes sense through Sciamma's lens I guess
Hey Hank! Seen you commenting on one of my favourite channel's vids (cinema cities) so thought I'd drop by and say hello! Interesting video here, I haven't seen this movie yet but now I want to. Thanks!
Haha, nice. Enjoy!
This movie is incredible
Great analysis!
Thank you 🙏
I've watched this movie many times and it gets me to think more about Adele Haenel
I just discovered this channel. I love that you watch movies nobody reacts to. Have you ever watched "blue is the warmest color"? It's quite a contervesial french lgbtq movie
Thank you! I've seen it, it's not my taste 💬
I just wanted to ask if someone knows the name of the song thats starts playing in his video at 3:44? Where is like a party or something(Sory if i have mistakes in writing)
does anyone know where i can watch the movie with english subtitles?
Does anyone know the names of the club music? The first one when they met at a party and the one during the club scene
originally avoided watching this video because I didn't want to change my own opinions especially coming from a non-female perspective, but I really appreaciate your insight, this movie was absolutely devastating to me and painfully relatable. I will say I could not focus on what you are saying at the end because I was trying to figure out if that was really Julien Baker I was hearing lol (great choice btw)
Haha, it was! I wouldn't want to replace any female voices about the movie, just give my feelings as a movie watcher and also another human devastated by childhood and the pangs of love.
the best is the opening of the film.it starts with DIES IRAE (day of wrath)from verdi's requiem
Verdi posting red flags from the beginning 😂
is there a link for me to watch this with english subtitles
where was this video and all these amazing analyses when 2016 me watched this for the first time
I’m glad you enjoyed the film. I saw it in the theatre in 2007 so I’ve had plenty of time to think about it. It’s unfortunate that people comment without critical thinking skills because to understand Sciamma’s work you must bring that into play. As I said, she presents and leaves it for the audience to dig, to think. POALOF is another example and it’s a masterpiece. Layer upon layer that will leave one thinking for years. Dissertations have been written about POALOF. Clever, clever Sciamma! I recommend a video called Rise of Desire to understand in Celine’s own words how she put the audience in the film. To understand her brilliance and Adele’s complete mastery of her craft, you should read the script for the final shot. You will be blown away. I believe I put the script in that videos comments..I’ve always loved the French title for Water Lilies; Naissance des Pieuvres. I’ve heard her reference Proust and his description of jealousy as an octopus. Paraphrasing Celine, “The first time someone feels jealousy, it sits like black ink in their stomach.”
Qmwhere did u watched the movie?
Where did you watch this
Hey!! I’m your 501 sub (congrats) I was wondering where did you find this moive?
Thanks! The film is not widely available at this point, but there are several threads in the comments on resources to watch it if you can't get a physical copy! Hope you watch some of the other Celine Sciamma stuff on this channel 💚💚
What Do You Think Of The Film?
period
WHAT WAS THAST 26:51 EXCUSE ME?!?!?
cant find this movie anywhere :/ pls help
movies2watch.tv/movie/watch-water-lilies-hd-11837
ما سمه
where can i watch this
I can’t find this movie I can’t find one that has English subtitles
ua-cam.com/video/s91grErUk9M/v-deo.html this one has english subtitles
Hey where to watch this movie in English or English subs
UA-cam
@@aishwaryajoshi2492 no way bro someone replied 😭.. tho I have stopped watching Lgbtq+ movies/series now.
I love your very interesting commentary on the Film and your vocal love for Celine Sciamma and the Movie as a whole very much :) Have you watched Tomboy yet?
Thanks! Tomboy is on the list, but verrry far down the pipeline 😩 I can't wait to see it, though!
Where did you watch it, Netflix ?
It's actually not on Netflix sadly
@@nightmare8526 so how did you watch it?
@@janedoe3549 i found it on some french website but you have to pay for it, the only other place i found is UA-cam but its in around 360-480p quality and with Spanish captions no english i had to translate stuff from Google Translate for most of the movie :/
@@nivirautela thanks so much. I’m so curious where he found it in hq
@@janedoe3549 im glad i could help :)
You mention the ugly interiors Sciamma seems to use and her dislike of buildings/architecture or Paris. A side note that Sciamma is from Cergy-Pontoise, a suburb about 40 minutes outside of Paris. Most of her films take place there - Water Lilies, Petite Maman, Tomboy. It's essentially a small town and a really modern place, Cergy was built in the 60s so it tends to be newer buildings and very different looking from the glamour of Paris. She seems to have an affinity for her hometown and the small characters who inform such a place near-the-action yet worlds away from it. I had the chance to visit the town last year and it was interesting to think about. Pontoise is really historical and old but Cergy is not and I imagine a place like that informed young Sciamma in interesting ways and gave her plenty of time removed from the big city outside to focus on the quiet quirky individuals who live in small towns dreaming of bigger worlds that seem close but are far away.
I LOVED your commentary for this, it really showed me a different interpretation of the film and points of view I hadn't considered. It's such a complex film in general. Thanks for making these! Once you watch the whole Sciamma filmography if you haven't already, would be curious how you'd rank them in preference. Would love to watch some Celine with you if you ever make it out to Seattle haha. You seem like such a blast to watch movies with! Keep up the rad work.
thank u 🇧🇷🏳️🌈
PORQUE NO HABLA ESPAÑOL 😭😭
YOU.NEED.MORE.SUBS.NOW .
this is not a link
😂😂
sharethegospell
I Love my gay movies.
This movie is about love but manipulation too....!
marie wanted the same thing all the others did.
7:40 Those Parisian suburbs, they are not nice! (except the poshy ones, of course)