Two young actresses who star in one of the most successful films released this year have claimed they were forced to engage in humiliating acts of sex and violence by its director. Adele Exarchopoulos (19) and Lea Seydoux (28) both say they will never work with Abdellatif Kechiche again following their experience filming “Blue is the Warmest Colour.” Their comments are threatening to overshadow the release of the three-hour film - which won the top prize at this year's Cannes Film Festival for its steamy and graphic portrayal of a lesbian love affair. The actresses also claimed that Kechiche ordered them to spend 10 days - mostly naked - filming a sex scene which last just ten minutes in the film.
Note: I kind of have mixed feelings about this story. While my heart goes out to them, especially the 19-year old Adele, who was only 18 when the film was made; I still have to ask myself this question: Didn’t they read the script beforehand? Although, I can completely understand what happens on a movie set. You tend to get swept away. You push everything into the character you are playing; and then, somewhere along the way, you sometimes lose yourself. What you perhaps would not do in your real life – you end-up doing. And the flattery coming from these slick perverts – cajoling and then pressuring you into further acts of degradation, can be powerful and oftentimes overwhelming. Lastly, there is the issue of fame. For whatever reason, as I am not familiar with the background of either these women, although Adele was suffered from overwhelming shyness as a child and sought acceptance and refuge in acting, they both sought out notoriety by appearing in this movie. They got it; but as what cost? After spending 10 days being tortured by the director, they may have been suffering from some form of Stockholm Syndrome. Perhaps, now, his grip over them is just coming undone. Keeping that in mind, it’s no wonder that the girls who enter pornography, who undoubtedly come from very dysfunctional homes, are easy prey from the truly sinister porn-pushers of Hollywood. I am sure Adele and Lea had agents, publicity people, and assistants, yet…look at what still happened to them. Porn actors and actresses have no one.