Water Lilies is a 2007 French drama film that marks the debut of Céline Sciamma as both screenwriter and director. This film captures the emotional complexities of adolescence and the intimate struggles that come with discovering one’s identity. Set in a suburban French town, the movie explores the lives of three teenage girls as they navigate the challenges of love, friendship, and self-acceptance.

The film centers on Marie, a shy and introverted teenager, who becomes fascinated by her classmate Floriane, a popular and confident girl on the swim team. Marie’s growing attraction to Floriane is complicated by her insecurities and the tension in their friendship. Through her perspective, the film examines the complexity of first crushes and the confusion that comes with sexual awakening.

At the same time, Water Lilies also follows Anne, Marie’s best friend, who is struggling with her own desires and feelings of inadequacy. Anne, who is also a member of the swim team, feels pressured to conform to societal expectations of beauty and femininity. This creates a powerful juxtaposition between the external and internal struggles faced by the characters, highlighting the contrast between outward appearances and inner turmoil.

What makes Water Lilies particularly striking is its subtle and intimate portrayal of female friendship and desire. Sciamma’s direction focuses on the nuances of everyday interactions, allowing the audience to feel the emotional depth of the characters’ experiences. The film’s pacing is deliberate, offering moments of silence and reflection that allow the audience to fully immerse in the characters’ emotional journeys.

The film’s cinematography is another standout feature, with the underwater sequences symbolizing the deep, often unspoken emotions of the characters. The use of water and aquatic imagery throughout the film evokes the fluidity and unpredictability of adolescence, as well as the sense of isolation that many young people experience during this time of self-discovery.

Water Lilies was well-received, winning the Louis Delluc Prize for Best First Film at the 2007 Cannes Film Festival. The film’s sensitive exploration of sexuality, identity, and the female experience resonated with audiences and critics alike, cementing Céline Sciamma as an important voice in contemporary cinema. Through Water Lilies, Sciamma has proven her ability to capture the raw and complex nature of youth, creating a film that continues to be both poignant and relevant today.