Down by Love

No pun intended - I doubt there are any warm colors in prison ... on the other hand, they do have some painting sessions too, so there is that. But this is about a forbidden love - about what it does to people who should not love each other - mentally and otherwise. And it may not be the one in prison who actually is ... a prisoner of love .... well you know what I mean. All that aside, the acting is incredible. And Adele really bares it all - so yes a lot of nudity, which you should not have issues with, if you want to watch the movie. But it also is quite straining when you think about the relationships of the characters. Very well laid out - and it sort of makes sense - stuff like this happens and the movie is a reminder. Now you can blame one party or the other, depending on your moral compass .... but sometimes things just fall into place without anyone being able to stop them ... well those involved that is ... hurting others is the byproduct for sure. Not an easy watch, but quite passionate in more than one sense.

This is not a great movie, but it is a very good one. A man is a warden at a women's prison. He takes a liking to one of the inmates, but no funny business at first. She ends up confessing her love for him and that's when things get crazy. He sets up a job for her that allows for them to be alone together. That's when things start to get intimate and both experience the highs and lows of a forbidden romance. Aside from the fact that he's a warden, he also is married and has a daughter which causes so much more trouble for him in his life. If you live Adele Exarchopoulos like I do, you will love this movie. I just found out that it is based off a true story which makes me appreciate it even more. Like I mentioned earlier, it's not great, but it is very good and well acted by all. It should be higher than hovering around the 6/10 rating for sure.

This is no masterpiece, as I've noted with a rating of 4. Exarchopoulos is a limited actress, and she's in practically every scene. Gallienne is a more than capable actor, but his part falls into blandness most of the time. The supporting cast do their best with a limited script. It was nice to see Marie Riviere, star of several Rohmer films, as the girl's mother. The story of a decent man falling for a trashy girl is hardly new; it's the plot of one of the greatest operas, Carmen. At least in that work, the audience is not required to guess at the motivations of the two leads.

I confess, I was already in love with Adéle Exarchopolus as a result of her brilliant performance in Blue is the Warmest Color. Down By Love is based on a true story deftly told by Pierre Godeau. The director never reveals the reason that Anna (Exarchopolous) is in prison and concentrates on the complex relationship between Anna and the prison director Jean. Jean is married with a loving wife and a wonderful daughter. Jean's wife, Stéphanie exhibits amazing tolerance and love as she becomes aware of the unfolding relationship between Jean and Anna. Anna is played perfectly by Exarchopolus capitalizing on her natural but sultry demeanor. Not only is Exarchoplous easy on the eye but she is an accomplished actor who portrays these complex emotions flawlessly. The end, as in many French films, is left open ... as an eternal romantic I am allowed to create the ending I really desire in my mind. Well worth watching.