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The Cannes FIlm Festival wrapped up over the weekend, and the winner of the Palme ‘dOr—the grand prize for all the films at the fest— was Blue is the Warmest Color, an adaptation of Julie Maroh’s graphic novel Le Bleu est Une Couleur Chaude. It’s the first comic book movie to win the top prize, although Persepolis tied for the Jury Prize in 2007.

Blue the movie, directed by Abdellatif Kekiche and starring Adele Exarchopulos and Lea Seydoux, tells the story of a 15 year old girl and her love affair with another young woman. It features a 10 minute lesbian sex scene that already had people talking quite a bit.

The graphic novel was originally published in 2010 by Glenat and is scheduled to be published later this year in English as Blue Angel by Pulp Arsenal Press.


The LA Times offers Maroh’s reaction to the win:

“I have no words to describe the amplitude of what I’ve experienced for the past few hours, few days,” Maroh wrote on her website (in French).  Maroh said that she had already seen the film twice, and would offer some words on it shortly. But her message, all told, was a simple one: “Make comic books. It’s cool.” 

In a translated statement on her website, Maroh offers more on the making of the film:

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The complete list of Cannes Festival prizes, as selected by a Steven Spielberg led jury.

Palme d’Or: “Blue is the Warmest Color,” Abdellatif Kechiche with Adele Exarcholoulos and Lea Seydoux
Grand Prix: “Inside Llewyn Davis,” Joel and Ethan Coen
Prix du Jury: “Like Father, Like Son,” Hirokazu Kore-eda
Prix de la Mise en Scene (Best Director): Amat Escalante, “Heli”
Prix du Scenario (Best Screenplay): Jia Zhangke, “A Touch of Sin”
Camera d’Or (Best First Feature): “Ilo Ilo,” Anthony Chen
Prix d’interpretation masculine (Best Actor): Bruce Dern, “Nebraska”
Prix d’interpretation feminine (Best Actress): Berenice Bejo, “The Past”
Palme d’Or, Short Film: “Safe,” Moon Byoung-gon
Special Mentions: “37o4 S,” Adriana Valerio; “Whale Valley,” Gudmundur Arnar Gudmundsson