🎬 A Stirring Narrative of Censored Love
Adore – A drama film released in 2013 at the Venice Film Festival shows love, friendship, and the multifaceted layers that come with it. Directed by Anne Fontaine and based off Doris Lessings novella: The Grandmothers, it revolves around the two friends and the cross cultural bonds they share with each others’ sons.
✨ CAST & CHARACTERS – Crossed Paths
Naomi Watts as Lil Weston: A daughter of a deceased husband, and a mother to Ian, who is torn between deciding whether to continue her relationship with her best friend’s son or not.
Robin Wright as Roz: Lil’s best friend and the mother of Tom, has finds herself in a similar situation with Lil’s son.
Xavier Samuel as Ian Weston: Incorporates the role of Lil’s son who has developed feelings for Roz.
James Frecheville as Tom: Son of Roz, along with becoming the husband of Lil.
Ben Mendelsohn as Harold: Hailing from Roz, he is the husband who absconded initiating the onset of the drama.
📝 THE STORY – CROSSING BOUNDARIES
As the Australian coastline provides the backdrop to the picturesque town of Adore, two childhood friends, Lil and Roz, raise their sons, Ian and Tom. As the boys come of age, each develops an attraction to the other’s mother which leads to undisguised liaisons with the mother’s son of their counterpart. What starts as reckless love transforms into enduring passion that defies familial and friendship ties.
🎭 THEMES – EXPLORING TABOO AND INTIMACY
Forbidden Love: This movie examines the ethical dilemmas of relationships that openly disregard accepted social norms.
Friendship and Loyalty: The unique choices of Lil and Roz explore the bounds of friendship and loyalty deeply rooted in their lives.
Aging and Desire: The narrative of the film centers on women’s desire as they age, confronting ageism head on.
🎬 FILMOGRAPHY
Les Femmes de l’ombre – Anne Fontaine (Director)
Les Femmes de l’ombre – Christopher Hampton (Screenwriter)
Based on: The Grandmothers – Doris Lessing
Cinematography – Christophe Beaucarne
Original Score – Christopher Gordon
Language – English
Genre – Drama
USA Release Date – September 6, 2013
Run Time – 111 minutes
🌍 RECEPTION
“Adore” has received mixed reviews. Watts and Wright’s performances were greatly praised though the plot remained heavily scrutinized. The film sits at 33% on Rotten Tomatoes, their consensus being, ‘Naomi Watts and Robin Wright give it their all but they cannot quite make Adore’s trashy absurd plot believable.”
🧨 FINAL VERDICT
Due to the daunting exploration of relationships, “Adore,” is bound to be a polarizing subject which forces the audience to reflect on love and the desires some are willing to cross boundaries for.