"Adore" is the newest film by BAFTA-nominated director Anne Fontaine, probably the most known Luxemburger in the movie industry these days. And just like her earlier works, this film is a mostly female-centered character study of interpersonal relationships that can be considered abysmal or perfectly normal depending on what's your approach to the topic and point of view.
The story is summarized quickly. We get to witness two best friends (Watts and Wright) who fall in love with each other's sons, best friends themselves. Of course this kind of relationship is quite a taboo, so they keep it secret knowing it will run out at some point anyway when the boys inevitably find partners their age. But will it really? Here and there, the movie has a weakness, like how it's almost impossible to make the aging of Wright's and Watts' characters look appropriate for the giant jumps in time. With the boys they did an okay job with their change in clothes and style, but for the women it was quite a challenge too tough to master. As a whole though, the film was not revolutionary or particularly must-watch in any way, but I'd still recommend it. The good acting as well as the interactions over the years between the characters involved in that love square (is that the right term? just imagine a love triangle with a fourth corner) make it worth a watch, mainly because of the forbidden fruit character, but also because of those poor souls more or less involved with everybody of the four: the husband, the colleague in the first half, and the two girls in the second half. Another thing I like about it is how it really offers room for discussion:
Should they have split up right away when things started? Could they even?
Was the reaction of Wright's character appropriate the moment Watts' character was left for a younger girl? I'd say no. This part really bothered me. Why make that sacrifice if attraction and love are still there. Too far-fetched for my taste.
Are their actions morally wrong initially? Should Watts' character have told her best friend about them coming back together? And what about the ending? How will things go on from then?
I personally believe none of the characters is really to blame as they just followed their hearts. Should they have acted against this urge only because of social conventions? I say as long as there's no incest involved, which obviously wasn't here, every man is the architect of his own fortune.
On a final note, it could be added that Doris Lessing, Nobel prize winner and writer of the original book, which was adapted for this film, died earlier this year way into her 90s. Quite a pity. It would have been interesting to see what she had to say about this movie. I say it's 100 entertaining minutes.
The story is summarized quickly. We get to witness two best friends (Watts and Wright) who fall in love with each other's sons, best friends themselves. Of course this kind of relationship is quite a taboo, so they keep it secret knowing it will run out at some point anyway when the boys inevitably find partners their age. But will it really? Here and there, the movie has a weakness, like how it's almost impossible to make the aging of Wright's and Watts' characters look appropriate for the giant jumps in time. With the boys they did an okay job with their change in clothes and style, but for the women it was quite a challenge too tough to master. As a whole though, the film was not revolutionary or particularly must-watch in any way, but I'd still recommend it. The good acting as well as the interactions over the years between the characters involved in that love square (is that the right term? just imagine a love triangle with a fourth corner) make it worth a watch, mainly because of the forbidden fruit character, but also because of those poor souls more or less involved with everybody of the four: the husband, the colleague in the first half, and the two girls in the second half. Another thing I like about it is how it really offers room for discussion:
Should they have split up right away when things started? Could they even?
Was the reaction of Wright's character appropriate the moment Watts' character was left for a younger girl? I'd say no. This part really bothered me. Why make that sacrifice if attraction and love are still there. Too far-fetched for my taste.
Are their actions morally wrong initially? Should Watts' character have told her best friend about them coming back together? And what about the ending? How will things go on from then?
I personally believe none of the characters is really to blame as they just followed their hearts. Should they have acted against this urge only because of social conventions? I say as long as there's no incest involved, which obviously wasn't here, every man is the architect of his own fortune.
On a final note, it could be added that Doris Lessing, Nobel prize winner and writer of the original book, which was adapted for this film, died earlier this year way into her 90s. Quite a pity. It would have been interesting to see what she had to say about this movie. I say it's 100 entertaining minutes.