Water Lilies (Naissance des pieuvres)
Dir: Céline Sciamma | France | 2007 | 85 mins
Céline Sciamma's debut feature Water Lilies chronicles the pubescent angst of three suburban teenage girls. Best friends Marie and Anne exist on the fringes of the local synchronized swimming team. Anne fantasises about François, the local stud, but Marie seems more interested in his morally lax on/off girlfriend Florian. This mixture of chlorine, hormones and frustrated desire leads to satisfyingly agonizing situations offset with the occasional fabulous synchro-routine.
A beautifully observed rite of passage drama, Water Lilies is hardly groundbreaking in subject matter, but rarely before has teenage life been so accurately (and painfully) displayed on screen. The performances from the three girls are scarily good (adults are notable for their absence) and the set pieces lovingly shot. The film has a charm and humour so often lacking from the cynical Hollywood teenage romances with which we are familiar. A word of caution however: if memories of adolescent lust and rejection are still too close for comfort, you may well end up watching Water Lilies through the gaps between your fingers.
Distributor: Slingshot
35mm & DVD bookings | Elizabeth Draper | 0208 758 8422
Theatrical Release date | tbc
Official website | www.myspace.com/pieuvres
Saturday 3 November, 12.00 | Broadway 4
Monday 5 November, 14.00 | Broadway 3
