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Poster for Water Lilies

Water Lilies

2007 · 1h 25m · N/A Drama, Romance
Directed by Céline Sciamma

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Overview

Set during a sultry summer in a French suburb, Marie is desperate to join the local pool's synchronized swimming team, but is her interest solely for the sake of sport or for a chance to get close to Floriane, the bad girl of the team? Sciamma, and the two leads, capture the uncertainty of teenage sexuality with a sympathetic eye in this delicate drama of the angst of coming-of-age.

Director and cast

Critics on Rotten Tomatoes

Top critics, in their words

All reviews
82%
Tomatometer
Fresh

A fascinating exploration of female friendship, love, manipulation, betrayal and healing.

Michael O'Sullivan, Washington Post
Rotten

A narrowly interesting story by French writer-director CA (C)line Sciamma about three girls whose lives are connected by synchronized swimming.

Tom Keogh, Seattle Times
Fresh

First-time writer/director Celine Sciamma focuses exclusively, empathetically and insightfully on her protagonists' coming-of-age experiences.

Colin Covert, Minneapolis Star Tribune
Rotten

While it never quite reaches Jack T. Ripper levels of absurdity, Water nonetheless drowns out its science with hazy spirituality and utterly preposterous claims. In the end, it all smells fishy.

Andrew Barker, Variety
Rotten

Celine Sciamma's quiet drama has moments of motionless yearning that contrast the intense emotions of its 15-year-old protagonists.

Joe Neumaier, New York Daily News

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