View source for Blue Is the Warmest Color (comics)

{{Short description|2010 graphic novel by Jul Maroh}}
{{Infobox graphic novel
|title=Blue Is the Warmest Color
|foreigntitle={{lang|fr|Le bleu est une couleur chaude}}
|image=Cover Blue Angel Maroh.jpg
|caption=Original cover of the English-language edition
|publisher=[[Glénat (publisher)|Glénat]]
|date=March 2010
|series= 
|origlanguage=French
|origpublication= 
|origdate=March 2010
|origisbn=978-2723467834
|transtitle=Blue Is the Warmest Color
|transpublisher=[[Arsenal Pulp Press]]
|transdate=2013
|transseriestitle= 
|transisbn=978-1551525143
|translator=
|pages=160
|creator=[[Jul Maroh]] <small>(credited in earlier printings under their [[deadname]])</small>
|previssue= 
}}
'''''Blue Is the Warmest Color''''' ({{langx|fr|Le bleu est une couleur chaude}}, originally announced as '''''Blue Angel''''') is a French [[graphic novel]] by [[Jul Maroh]],{{efn|name=Jul|[https://web.archive.org/web/20200924054309/https://arsenalpulp.com/Books/B/Blue-Is-the-Warmest-Color Initially credited as Julie Maroh]; ''Blue Is the Warmest Color'' was released before Maroh [[coming out|came out]] as [[non-binary]].<ref>{{Cite web|last=M|first=Julie|title=Journée internationale de la visibilité trans {{!}} Cœurs-forêts|url=http://www.juliemaroh.com/2020/03/31/journee-internationale-de-la-visibilite-trans/|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200423042042/http://www.juliemaroh.com/2020/03/31/journee-internationale-de-la-visibilite-trans/|archive-date=2020-04-23|access-date=2022-09-10|language=fr-FR}} - [https://www.instagram.com/p/B-ZgESHCTes/ English version on their] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220910171255/https://www.instagram.com/p/B-ZgESHCTes/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link |date=2022-09-10 }} [[Instagram]]</ref> Newer printings refer to the author as Jul Maroh.<ref>{{cite book|url=https://arsenalpulp.com/Books/B/Blue-Is-the-Warmest-Color|title=Blue Is the Warmest Color|publisher=[[Arsenal Pulp Press]]|accessdate=2022-09-11|archive-date=2022-12-10|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221210094124/https://arsenalpulp.com/Books/B/Blue-Is-the-Warmest-Color|url-status=live}}</ref>}} published by [[Glénat (publisher)|Glénat]] in March 2010.<ref name="figaro">{{cite web | url=http://www.lefigaro.fr/culture/2010/12/15/03004-20101215ARTFIG00761-moi-clementine-15-ans-je-vis-pour-les-yeux-d-emma.php | title=Moi, Clémentine, 15 ans, je vis pour les yeux d'Emma | author=Aurélia Vertaldi | date=21 January 2011 | publisher=[[Le Figaro]] | accessdate=17 June 2011 | archive-date=3 December 2013 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131203090446/http://www.lefigaro.fr/culture/2010/12/15/03004-20101215ARTFIG00761-moi-clementine-15-ans-je-vis-pour-les-yeux-d-emma.php | url-status=live }}</ref> The English-language edition was published by [[Arsenal Pulp Press]] in 2013. The novel tells a love story between two young women in [[France]] in the 1990s and 2000s. 

[[Abdellatif Kechiche]] directed a film adaptation in 2013, titled ''[[Blue Is the Warmest Colour]]'', which was awarded the [[Palme d'Or]] at the [[2013 Cannes Film Festival]].

== Summary ==
The story takes place in France between 1994 and 2008. After the death of her partner Clémentine, Emma goes to the home of Clémentine's parents, Daniel and Fabienne, in accordance with Clémentine's will, to request access to Clémentine's personal diary. Emma must face the hostility of Clémentine's father, somewhat offset by Clémentine's welcoming mother. The story then follows Emma as she reads Clémentine's diary, which tells the whole story of the relationship between the two young women from Clémentine's teenage years and her first meeting with Emma to her untimely death.

In the beginning, Clémentine meets a boy, Thomas, who is a student in Terminale (final year of [[lycée]], the French equivalent of [[high school (United States)|senior high school]] or [[sixth-form college]]); they like each other, but soon afterward, Clémentine becomes intrigued by a chance meeting with a blue-haired young woman on the arm of another woman, Sabine Decocq. For Clémentine, it is love at first sight. Unable to forget this encounter, she starts to have doubts about her sexuality, but decides to date Thomas because she wants to feel normal. Six months later, Clémentine is unable to have sex with Thomas and breaks up with him. Feeling depressed, she is helped by one of her male friends, Valentin, to whom she confesses everything; Valentin tells her that he has already dated a boy, which Clémentine finds quite comforting.

One evening shortly thereafter, Valentin takes Clémentine to some gay bars.  Clémentine sees the blue-haired young woman again with Sabine at a lesbian bar. The blue-haired girl comes to talk to Clémentine and introduces herself as Emma. The two keep in touch and become friends, while Clémentine secretly falls in love with Emma. Clémentine then has to face the gossip and homophobic taunts from some of her schoolmates when they hear that she and Emma were at a gay bar together. Some time later, while the relationship between Emma and Sabine has somewhat stalled (mainly because Sabine often cheats on Emma), Clémentine eventually confides her feelings to Emma, who in turn says she is in love with her. They have sex and start an affair. Emma eventually finds the strength to break up with Sabine and starts living with Clémentine. One night, when the two spend the evening at Clémentine's place, Emma walks into the kitchen completely naked to get a glass of milk and Clémentine's mother catches her. Clémentine's parents then find both of them nude in the bedroom and their reaction is violently hostile: Clémentine is thrown out of her home, along with Emma.

Clémentine then starts living at Emma's parents' place; the two subsequently get a home of their own and live there happily for several years. Emma becomes an artist, while Clémentine becomes a high school teacher. Emma starts to become politically involved and takes part in LGBT activism, while Clémentine prefers to keep her sexuality private. One day, Emma discovers that Clémentine cheated on her with a male colleague; she angrily breaks up with her and kicks her out. Clémentine, who has taken refuge at Valentin's place, becomes depressed and addicted to pills. Valentin organises a meeting and leaves both women alone on a beach. Still in love with each other, they reconcile, but Clémentine is undone by her addiction, which results in a [[seizure]] that puts her in the hospital, where Emma discovers that she is not allowed access to her at first. Clémentine's parents and Emma eventually learn that it is too late to save her; the damage from the drugs is too great. Clémentine writes the final pages of her diary at the hospital, and then dies. As Emma reads the diary's conclusion, she remembers that Clémentine urged her to continue living her life as she knows it.

== History ==
Maroh started the comic at the age of 19 and took five years to complete it. It was supported by the [[French Community of Belgium]].<ref name="figaro" />

From 27 to 30 January 2011, the novel was promoted during the 2011 [[Angoulême International Comics Festival]], where it was part of the official selection.<ref>[http://www.bodoi.info/news/2010-11-17/angouleme-2011-la-selection-officielle/40084 ''Angoulême 2011: la sélection officielle''] {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120502000154/http://www.bodoi.info/news/2010-11-17/angouleme-2011-la-selection-officielle/40084 |date=May 2, 2012 }}</ref> During this festival, ''Blue Is the Warmest Color'' was awarded the ''[[Fnac]]-[[SNCF]] Essential'' prize, an award selected by the public.

The deal for its English translation, to be released in September 2013, was made at the 2012 [[Frankfurt Book Fair]].<ref>{{cite web|last=Kellogg|first=Carolyn|url=https://www.latimes.com/books/jacketcopy/la-et-jc-blue-is-the-warmest-color-gets-nc-17-rating-book-due-in-sept-20130821-story.html|title='Blue Is the Warmest Color' gets NC-17 rating; book due in September|newspaper=[[Los Angeles Times]]|date=2013-08-21|accessdate=2022-09-11|archive-date=2022-09-11|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220911135439/https://www.latimes.com/books/jacketcopy/la-et-jc-blue-is-the-warmest-color-gets-nc-17-rating-book-due-in-sept-20130821-story.html|url-status=live}} - [https://www.baltimoresun.com/entertainment/la-et-jc-blue-is-the-warmest-color-gets-nc-17-rating-book-due-in-sept-20130821-story.html See version at] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220911135611/https://www.baltimoresun.com/entertainment/la-et-jc-blue-is-the-warmest-color-gets-nc-17-rating-book-due-in-sept-20130821-story.html |date=2022-09-11 }} ''[[Baltimore Sun]]''</ref>

== Editions and translations ==
* {{in lang|fr}} Julie Maroh, ''Le bleu est une couleur chaude'', [[Glénat (publisher)|Glénat]] – Hors collection, 2010 {{ISBN|978-2-7234-6783-4}}
* Julie Maroh, ''Blue Is the Warmest Colour'', [[Arsenal Pulp Press]], 2013 {{ISBN|978-1-55152-514-3}}
* {{in lang|es}} Julie Maroh, ''El azul es un color cálido'', {{ill|Dibbuks|es}}, 2011 {{ISBN|978-84-92902-44-6}}
* {{in lang|nl}} Julie Maroh, ''Blauw is een warme kleur'', [[Glénat (publisher)|Glénat]] – Hors collection, 2011 {{ISBN|978-90-6969-933-2}}
* {{in lang|pt}} Julie Maroh, ''Azul é a cor mais quente'', {{ill|Martins Fontes (editora)|lt=Editora Martins Fontes|pt}} – Selo Martins, 2013 {{ISBN|978-85-8063-125-8}}
* {{in lang|el}} Julie Maroh, ''Το Μπλε είναι το πιο Ζεστό Χρώμα'', ΚΨΜ, 2013 {{ISBN|978-96-0675-084-7}}
* {{in lang|sv}} Julie Maroh, ''Blå är den varmaste färgen'', Nubeculis, 2015 {{ISBN|978-91-6378-736-2}}

== Awards ==
* ''Prix Jeune Auteur'' at the Salon de la BD et des Arts Graphiques of [[Roubaix]] 2010
* ''Prix Conseil Régional'' at the festival of [[Blois]] 2010<ref name="figaro" />
* ''Fnac-SNCF Essential'' at the 2011 [[Angoulême International Comics Festival]]
* ''Diplôme "Isidor" of the website altersexualite.com''<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.altersexualite.com/spip.php?article601 |title=''Critique du site altersexualite.com'' |access-date=2013-05-31 |archive-date=2012-11-21 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121121063243/http://www.altersexualite.com/spip.php?article601 |url-status=live }}</ref>
* ''Prix BD des lycéens de la Guadeloupe''<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.lgtbaimbridge.fr/spip.php?article620 |title=''Palmarès 2011 Prix BD des lycéens de la Guadeloupe '' |access-date=2013-05-31 |archive-date=2013-10-21 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131021065808/http://www.lgtbaimbridge.fr/spip.php?article620 |url-status=dead }}</ref>
* Prize of the best international album during the 4e Festival international de la BD d'Alger in 2011<ref>[http://www.bdalger.net/?q=fr/actualites/resultats-pro Résultats des concours professionnels sur le site du festival] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131021135649/http://www.bdalger.net/?q=fr%2Factualites%2Fresultats-pro |date=2013-10-21 }}. Page consultée le 29 November 2011.</ref>

== Film adaptation ==
{{Main|Blue Is the Warmest Colour}}
A film adaptation was made by [[Abdelatif Kechiche]], with [[Léa Seydoux]] and [[Adèle Exarchopoulos]] in the main roles, released in 2013<ref>[http://www.premiere.fr/film/Le-Bleu-est-une-couleur-chaude-3134260 Le Bleu est une couleur chaude] {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130723022138/http://www.premiere.fr/film/Le-Bleu-est-une-couleur-chaude-3134260 |date=July 23, 2013 }} – ''[[Premiere (magazine)|Premiere]]''.fr</ref> under the title ''[[Blue Is the Warmest Colour]]''. Like the book, it received great critical acclaim, winning [[List of accolades received by Blue Is the Warmest Colour|several awards]], including the ''[[Palme d'Or]]'' at the [[2013 Cannes Film Festival]].

While the first two thirds of the film are similar (with Clémentine renamed "Adèle"), the ending is different from the book: Adèle is still alive, and the two lovers split up due to what are strongly suggested to be [[irreconcilable differences]].

== Translations ==
[[Sepideh Jodeyri]], an Iranian poet in the Czech Republic, made a Persian translation, as ''Abi Garmtarin Rang Ast''. Conservative groups in Iran criticised her. There was a plan for a debut of this translation in [[Tehran]], but it was later canceled.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.theguardian.com/books/2015/feb/13/blue-is-the-warmest-colour-iranian-translator-lesbian-romance|title=Iranian translator of Blue Is the Warmest Colour 'declared persona non grata'|newspaper=[[The Guardian]]|date=2015-02-13|accessdate=2023-05-08|archive-date=2023-05-09|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230509024614/https://www.theguardian.com/books/2015/feb/13/blue-is-the-warmest-colour-iranian-translator-lesbian-romance|url-status=live}}</ref>

==Notes==
{{notelist}}

== References ==
{{reflist}}

== External links ==
* [https://arsenalpulp.com/Books/B/Blue-Is-the-Warmest-Color Blue is the Warmest Color] - [[Arsenal Pulp Press]] - [https://arsenalpulp.com/content/download/6663/81043/version/1/file/9781551525143_BlueIsTheWarmest_excerpt.pdf Excerpt]
* ''[http://www.glenatbd.com/bd/le-bleu-est-une-couleur-chaude-9782723467834.htm Le Bleu est une couleur chaude]'' on ''[[Glénat (publisher)|Glénat]]'' {{inlang|fr}}
* ''[https://archive.org/details/blueiswarmestcol0000maro/mode/2up Blue is the Warmest Color]'' - On the [[Internet Archive]]

{{Authority control}}

[[Category:2010 graphic novels]]
[[Category:French graphic novels]]
[[Category:French comics adapted into films]]
[[Category:Lesbian-related comics]]
[[Category:LGBTQ-related graphic novels]]
[[Category:Graphic novels set in the 1990s]]
[[Category:Graphic novels set in the 2000s]]
[[Category:2010s LGBTQ novels]]
[[Category:French LGBTQ novels]]
[[Category:Graphic novels set in France]]
[[Category:Arsenal Pulp Press books]]
[[Category:2010 LGBTQ-related literary works]]