Even with this debut, it's clear Sciamma is a force.

| Dec 9, 2021

The greatest strength of Sciamma's film is that Sciamma herself is the point of view - not Marie.

| Feb 26, 2021

The film lacks much insight into the characters' subjectivities.... [But] I think the relationships developed and intimacies shared in [Water Lilies is] moving and deeply felt.

| Jan 11, 2021

Display(s) a potent insight into teenage sexuality, unspoken desires, and unrequited love.

| Original Score: 3.5/4 | Jul 6, 2019

This is all too predictable, though there is sufficient evidence here that Sciamma is a talent to watch out for in the future.

| Original Score: 3/5 | Nov 4, 2018

This is a brave film, and admirable for that. It's brave because it's sparse and stripped to the bone; because it's about teenage girls but it doesn't hide behind cell phones and make-up and fashion and annoying parents who just don't understand.

| Aug 23, 2018

With little dialogue it is an intense film that, one feels, deeply reflects the director's personal experience.

| Sep 26, 2017

| Original Score: 2/4 | Nov 24, 2011

Full Review | Original Score: 3/5 | Nov 17, 2011

Frankly and sensitively packs in a lot of teen girls' yearning for conformity above the water line and down below%u2013 pressure, insecurity, romance, and sexual exploration.

| Original Score: 8/11 | Dec 7, 2008

Borderline kiddie porn featuring sexual girl-on-girl garbage sniffing of one's favorite female object of desire, post-feminist burying instead of burning bras as female self-hatred, and gal pal how-to tips on deflowering your best friend.

| Sep 3, 2008

It'd all be tres dull if it weren't for the magnificent faces of Pauline Acquart and Adele Haenel. Actually, it still gets dull, even if at times the film skirts kiddie-porn territory.

| Aug 1, 2008

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

| Jul 31, 2008

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

| Original Score: 2.5/4 | Jul 25, 2008

If poetry is about finding the perfect words to say something, then movie poetry is about finding perfect images. And Water Lilies has several of them.

Full Review | Original Score: 3.5/4 | Jul 25, 2008

Water Lilies is that rare film about female sexuality that is made for females to relate to, not for males to fantasize about.

| Original Score: B | Jul 24, 2008

...a coming of age tale that is at once raw and beautiful.

| Original Score: B+ | Jul 19, 2008

A sensitive study of budding adolescent desires, a pervert's delight, plus synchronized swimming. Yes, Water Lilies will be many things to many people.

Full Review | Original Score: 3.5/4 | May 16, 2008

Sciamma demonstrates the potential to make a truly erotic and interesting film. This just isn't it.

| Original Score: 3/5 | May 15, 2008

Unfortunately, this is not a satire like Dr. Strangelove -- it's a documentary in which talking heads spout pseudoscientific claptrap that comes across as all wet.

| Original Score: 0/4 | Apr 18, 2008