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Water Lilies (2007) poster

Water Lilies

dir. Céline Sciamma · 2007

Exploring the complexities of desire and identity reveals the struggles and uncertainties inherent in the journey of self-discovery during adolescence.

Feature
Coming of Age
Mood
Romantic / Melancholic
Look
soft, sun-drenched cinematography, capturing the heat of summer and the fluidity of water
Structure
intimate and character-focused, emphasizing personal moments over plot-driven arcs
Plot

Set during a sultry summer in a French suburb, Marie is desperate to join the local pool's synchronized swimming team, but is her interest solely for the sake of sport or for a chance to get close to Floriane, the bad girl of the team? Sciamma, and the two leads, capture the uncertainty of teenage sexuality with a sympathetic eye in this delicate drama of the angst of coming-of-age.

Why watch

"Water Lilies" captures the delicate complexities of teenage desire against the backdrop of synchronized swimming, weaving a poignant narrative of longing and self-discovery that resonates with the heart of young love. Sciamma's tender gaze invites viewers into a world where every glance and whisper carries the weight of unfulfilled yearning.

Cultural context
French suburban lifeteenage sexualitythe evolution of LGBTQ+ narratives in filmsynchronized swimming as a metaphor for fluid identity
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