LES MOTS BLEUS (WORDS IN BLUE)

France, 2005, 114 minutes, Colour.
Sylvie Testud, Sergi Lopez, Camille Gauthier.
Directed by Alain Corneau.

Words in Blue is an emotional film. It focuses on an emotionally insecure mother, played by Sylvie Testud, and her questionably mute daughter, Camille Gauthier. The film develops the tensions of the relationship between mother and daughter. It also shows the interaction between the daughter and her tutor, Sergi Lopez.

Director Alain Corneau began directing films in 1974 making some police thrillers during the 70s and bigger-budget films like Choice of Arms and Fort Saganne during the 1980s. He made the very moving film about 18th century music in 1991, All the Mornings of the World.

1.A humane film? Portrait of parents, children? Family? Handicaps and education?

2.The authentic atmosphere of the locations: homes, schools, the musical score?

3.The credits and the sound-over of arrest and guns?

4.The importance of the title, words, communication, cause of betrayal, death? Reading and writing? The grandmother and her stroke? The story and words? Anna and Claire?

5.The bond between mother and daughter? Life at home? On the coast? A variety of moods? School sequences, hurts?

6.The back-story of the father, the Czech? Audiences filling in this background and its emotional consequences?

7.The interview with Vincent? Tension? For Claire, for Anne, for Vincent?

8.Vincent’s story, relationships – and lack of relationships? Muriel and the children? Work? The later story, the father? The trains, the drawings? Work?

9.Vincent and Anna, the environment, the children? Muriel and the children? Play? The bubbles? The whistle and the goal? Masks?

10.Camille, her work, the bond? Outside? Suspicions of Vincent, resentment? Protection and clashes? Taunts? Muriel and the children? The mask and the secret? The taking of the whistle?

11.Vincent and his personality, the eating, the story, sexual encounter?

12.The aftermath, sleeping, Anna at home? Vincent leaving?

13.The beach sequence, the rescue?

14.The possibilities for the future, Anna and her breakthrough, Camille and her learning?