At the 2013 Cannes press conference for Blue Is the Warmest Color, Léa Seydoux started crying. What appeared to be a celebration concealed months of emotional weariness, hostility on set, and a demanding shooting process that tested the capabilities of both her and co-star Adèle Exarchopoulos. Although the movie won the Palme d’Or, it incurred significant production liabilities.
As Adéle sets off on a path of self-discovery regarding her sexuality, she and Emma pursue a passionate sexual relationship. Additionally, French author Jul Maroh’s 2010 graphic novel of the same name served as its inspiration. The cinema industry reacted strongly to the picture, especially to Emma and Adéle’s compelling lesbian dynamic.
Seydoux herself acknowledged that a specific six-minute sex scene that was filmed over ten days caused her to rethink her own sexuality. But the movie was well received by critics and won the Palme d’Or. In 2013, Seydoux was seen crying during a Cannes press conference while Kechiche complimented her.
She explained why she cried in an interview with Esquire, saying, “I remember, it was terrible because I felt so embarrassed.” It was also hardly a “closed” set at one point because they were using three cameras. It’s also unprecedented that Exarchopoulos seems to suggest that the sex scenes weren’t rehearsed.
According to Lea Seydoux, she “felt like a prostitute” during filming the sex scene. “How indecent to talk about pain when doing one of the best jobs in the world,” Kechiche retorted. “The orderlies suffer, the unemployed suffer, construction workers could talk about suffering. How, when you are adored, when you go up on red carpet, when we receive awards, how we can speak of suffering?”
Seydoux added, “So it was a very emotional moment. It was like… relief that the film was shown to the audience. And of course, because this film was difficult to shoot. “I would love to do another film that requires all my being. But with, like, no. Of course, I wouldn’t work with him again.”
When questioned further, she stated that she didn’t mind “the fact that he wanted to do many takes” or that he “pushed me” as an actress, but that “the problem was more between the takes. The fact that you don’t see your friends, that you have no life.” However, Blue is the Warmest Color wasn’t without criticism. Maroh called the sex scene “porn,” while Seydoux described her experience filming the film as “horrible.”
In an interview, Kechiche claimed that the movie was “too tarnished” because “The Palme d’Or was a fleeting instant of happiness; since then, I’ve felt humiliated, dishonoured, rejected – as if I’m cursed.”
