Blue is the warmest colour is a searingly beautiful portrait of a young woman’s burgeoning sexuality. After a somewhat disappointing relationship with Thomas, schoolgirl Adèle meets artist Emma and experiences the ‘love at first sight’ that she had only before encountered in novels. Against the backdrop of France’s polemic same-sex marriage law, their romance blossoms through discussions of existentialism and trips to art galleries. Kechiche’s film explodes heteronormative codes whilst raising thought-provoking questions about social class, with contrasting depictions of the bourgeoisie (incarnated by Emma) and the proletariat (as shown by Adèle). It should come as no surprise that this magnificent coming-of-age tale clinched the Palme d’Or in 2013, largely thanks to the leading actresses’ stunning performances. Adèle Exarchopoulos – shot in a relentless series of extreme close-ups – constitutes Blue is the warmest colour’s beating heart, transforming the film into a powerful meditation on love and loss. A must see.