Based on Doris Lessing’s 2003 novella The Grandmothers , the film introduces Lil (Watts) and Roz (Wright). They are childhood companions living in a breathtaking coastal paradise—a fictional town called Kiama where the Pacific crashes against volcanic rocks and sunlight filters through eucalyptus leaves. They swim naked. They finish each other’s sentences. Their husbands are either dead or absent.
For fans of indie pop and electronic rock, 2013 also marked a peak for the Brooklyn-based duo . They released their popular album Our Nature in June 2013, which featured top tracks like "Dreamers" and "Imagination" .
Directed by Anne Fontaine, the (originally titled Adoration or Perfect Mothers ) remains one of the most visually mesmerizing and emotionally polarizing films of the 2010s. Based on Nobel Prize-winning author Doris Lessing’s novella The Grandmothers , the movie follows two lifelong best friends, Lil ( Naomi Watts ) and Roz ( Robin Wright ), who engage in cross-generational romantic affairs with each other's adult sons, Ian ( Xavier Samuel ) and Tom ( James Frecheville ).
Adore is a rare film that centers the sexuality of women in their 40s and 50s without framing them as "cougars" in the comedic sense. It treats their desire with seriousness and respect. However, it also highlights the tragedy of aging. adore 2013 top
: Critics generally praised the "acting masterclass" delivered by Robin Wright and the vulnerable performance of Naomi Watts.
She had worn it the night Eli kissed her for the first time—by the lake, after a friend’s bonfire. His hands were shaking. So were hers. She remembered the way the moonlight caught the lace on her shoulder. He’d whispered, “You look like something out of a song.”
Set in an idyllic, secluded Australian seaside town, the film follows lifelong best friends Lil () and Roz ( Robin Wright ). Their bond is so intense that Roz’s husband feels like an outsider, eventually moving to Sydney alone. Based on Doris Lessing’s 2003 novella The Grandmothers
This setting is not merely a location; it is a character. The film is washed in "golden hour" lighting—a perpetual state of twilight and summer. This creates a dreamlike, idyllic atmosphere that serves a dual purpose. First, it establishes a sense of timelessness, suggesting that these women have created a paradise where they refuse to age. Second, the beauty of the setting acts as a mask. The transgressive nature of the relationships is softened by the sheer aesthetic beauty of the frame. The viewer is asked to accept the impossible by presenting it within a visual Eden, making the taboo feel natural, even inevitable.
The film was shot on the New South Wales coast of Australia, and the landscape functions almost like a character itself. Crystal clear turquoise waters dominate the frame.
Naomi Watts and Robin Wright are styled almost exclusively in breathable, lightweight fabrics like linen button-downs, silk slip dresses, and relaxed kaftans. They finish each other’s sentences
Lena folded the top carefully, not back into the bin, but onto her bed. She wouldn’t wear it again—it was too fragile now, like the memories themselves. But she wouldn’t bury it either.
Adore is renowned for being a difficult film to categorize. It is often criticized, but also praised, for its handling of taboo subjects. Taboo Intimacy
At the heart of Adore is a controversial "switch" that drives the entire plot. Two lifelong best friends, Roz (Robin Wright) and Lil (Naomi Watts), live in a secluded coastal paradise. Their bond is so tight that it borders on exclusionary, but things take a shocking turn when they each begin a secret romantic affair with the other’s teenage son. This circular, unconventional dynamic creates a tension that is both hypnotic and deeply uncomfortable, forcing the audience to question the nature of maternal love and societal taboos. The Powerhouse Leads: Wright and Watts
Ten years on, Adore remains at the top of a very short list: the rare film about female desire that refuses to apologize, explain, or ask for your approval. You don’t have to love it. But you can’t look away.
Adore (2013) is a provocative drama that remains a frequent topic of conversation for its daring subject matter and stunning visual aesthetics. Directed by Anne Fontaine and based on Doris Lessing’s novella The Grandmothers, the film explores the blurred lines of friendship, family, and forbidden desire.
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