by Rachel Chu
Staff Writer
In the first of many films shown for their queer film series, the Gender and Sexual Diversity (GSD) House presented the French film Blue Is the Warmest Color on October 29. Directed by Abdellatif Kechiche, the film follows young Adele who meets blue-haired Emma, who allows her to grow as a woman while exploring her sexuality. The two develop as humans together, experiencing struggles with social acceptance and mature emotion. Kathryn Willgus (C’16), a resident of the GSD House, expressed how important the film was in creating “positive representations of queer culture in the media.” She explained that while some people critique the film’s pornographic elements, others assert that it follows the first love scenario “that everyone can relate to.”
The event was fairly well attended, and received praise for its progressiveness. Maren Johnson (C’17) complimented the film for its “interesting combination of foreign cultural exposure and sexual cultural exposure,” and believed it reminded Americans how progressive other countries are compared to the US. For its socially forward themes and topics, Blue Is the Warmest Color provided much-needed representation for the LGBTQI community on Sewanee’s campus.