Water Lilies (2008)
79%RT Audience Score: 68%
Awards & Nominations: 4 wins & 7 nominations
Water Lilies is a film that delves into the complexities of teenage relationships, exploring themes of love, manipulation, and betrayal. While some critics have found the film lacking in character development, it is clear that director Céline Sciamma is a force to be reckoned with. The sparse and stripped-down nature of the film is admirable, as it avoids the typical trappings of teenage dramas. Instead, it offers a potent insight into the unspoken desires and unrequited love that often define teenage sexuality. With little dialogue, Sciamma manages to create an intense and deeply personal film that is both moving and fascinating. Overall, Water Lilies is a brave and thought-provoking exploration of female friendship and the complexities of growing up.
Water Lilies is a film that explores the complexities of teenage relationships, particularly those between young girls. While some critics found the lack of character insight disappointing, others praised the film’s bravery in tackling difficult topics without relying on cliches. The movie is a fascinating exploration of female friendship, love, manipulation, betrayal, and healing, and it’s clear that director Céline Sciamma is a force to be reckoned with. Overall, Water Lilies is a must-watch for anyone who wants to relive the awkwardness and intensity of adolescence, but with a French twist.
Production Company(ies)
Kurosawa Production Co., Sammy Toho Company,
Distributor
NA
Release Type
Filming Location(s)
Cergy, Val-d’Oise, France
MPAA / Certificate
Year of Release
2007
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Color:Color
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Sound mix:Dolby
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Aspect ratio:1.85 : 1
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Runtime:NA
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Language(s):French
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Country of origin:United States
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Release date:Release Date (Streaming): Sep 16, 2008
Genre(s)
Comedy/Drama
Keyword(s)
Water Lilies, Comedy, Drama, French, Céline Sciamma, Bénédicte Couvreur, Jérôme Dopffer, Pauline Acquart, Louise Blachère, Adèle Haenel, Warren Jacquin, Barbara Renard, coming-of-age, teenage sexuality, synchronized swimming, French suburb, box office, $77.3K, reviewed by Drew Gregory, Alyx Vesey, Deborah Ross, Wesley Morris, Melissa Anderson, Michael O’Sullivan, Chase Burns, Lisa Nesselson, Mattie Lucas, Kaleem Aftab, Pamela Jahn, MPAA rating, female friendship, love, manipulation, betrayal, healing
Worldwide gross: $628,258
Worldwide gross (inflation-adjusted): $900,022
Worldwide gross ranking (inflation-adjusted): 2,619
Worldwide tickets sold (est.): 98,149
US/Canada gross: $85,440
US/Canada gross (inflation-adjusted): $122,399
US/Canada gross ranking (inflation-adjusted): 2,638
US/Canada opening weekend: $7,418
US/Canada opening weekend (inflation-adjusted): $10,627
US/Canada opening weekend ranking (inflation-adjusted): 2,690
Budget and Earnings Details
Production budget (est.): NA
Production budget (inflation-adjusted): NA
Production budget ranking: NA
Marketing and distribution budget (inflation-adjusted est.): NA
Box office net earnings to date (inflation-adjusted est.): NA
ROI to date (est.): NA
ROI ranking: NA
Louise Blachère – Anne
Adèle Haenel – Floriane
Warren Jacquin – François
Barbara Renard – Natacha
Céline Sciamma – Director
Bénédicte Couvreur – Producer
Jérôme Dopffer – Producer
Céline Sciamma – Writer
Director(s)
Céline Sciamma
Writer(s)
Céline Sciamma
Producer(s)
Bénédicte Couvreur, Jérôme Dopffer
Film Festivals
Awards & Nominations
4 wins & 7 nominations
Academy Awards
All Critics (49) | Top Critics (21) | Fresh (40) | Rotten (9)
The greatest strength of Sciamma’s film is that Sciamma herself is the point of view – not Marie.
February 26, 2021
Drew Gregory
Autostraddle
TOP CRITIC
The film lacks much insight into the characters’ subjectivities…. [But] I think the relationships developed and intimacies shared in [Water Lilies is] moving and deeply felt.
January 11, 2021
Alyx Vesey
Bitch Media
TOP CRITIC
This is a brave film, and admirable for that. It’s brave because it’s sparse and stripped to the bone; because it’s about teenage girls but it doesn’t hide behind cell phones and make-up and fashion and annoying parents who just don’t understand.
August 23, 2018
Deborah Ross
The Spectator
TOP CRITIC
November 24, 2011 | Rating: 2/4
Wesley Morris
Boston Globe
TOP CRITIC
November 17, 2011 | Rating: 3/5
Melissa Anderson
Time Out
TOP CRITIC
A fascinating exploration of female friendship, love, manipulation, betrayal and healing.
July 31, 2008
Michael O’Sullivan
Washington Post
TOP CRITIC
Even with this debut, it’s clear Sciamma is a force.
December 9, 2021
Chase Burns
The Stranger (Seattle, WA)
Parents and other authority figures are so tangential…
November 11, 2020
Lisa Nesselson
France24
Display(s) a potent insight into teenage sexuality, unspoken desires, and unrequited love.
July 6, 2019 | Rating: 3.5/4
Mattie Lucas
From the Front Row
This is all too predictable, though there is sufficient evidence here that Sciamma is a talent to watch out for in the future.
November 4, 2018 | Rating: 3/5
Kaleem Aftab
The List
With little dialogue it is an intense film that, one feels, deeply reflects the director’s personal experience.
September 26, 2017
Pamela Jahn
Electric Sheep
Frankly and sensitively packs in a lot of teen girls’ yearning for conformity above the water line and down below%u2013 pressure, insecurity, romance, and sexual exploration.
December 7, 2008 | Rating: 8/11
Nora Lee Mandel
Film-Forward.com…
Plot
Set in a French suburb during a hot summer, Water Lilies follows Marie’s desire to join the local synchronized swimming team, which may be driven by her attraction to the team’s bad girl, Floriane, in this coming-of-age drama that explores teenage sexuality.
Trivia
Goofs / Tidbits
There is no goofy or funny or odd comment about the film Water Lilies on Fresh Kernels.
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