Adore

Two lifelong friends, Lil and Roz, grew up as neighbors in a sunlit beach town and watched their sons grow close. As adults, those two families become even more intertwined, with the boys Ian and Tom forming a strong bond while their mothers share moments of easy companionship. Then a summer arrives when feelings simmer beneath the surface, bringing desires that stretch beyond conventional boundaries. Each person confronts a truth they had kept private, and the ensuing choices threaten to redefine marriage, friendship, and family. The film keeps the focus on emotions and conversations rather than sensational turns, inviting viewers to observe how personal happiness can collide with social norms. The heat of the season becomes a catalyst, forcing conversations that had been avoided and revealing fault lines in each character.

Directed by Anne Fontaine, Adore adapts Doris Lessing's The Grandmothers with a screenplay by Christopher Hampton and Judy Morris; the film was released in 2013, bringing a frank, adult mood to a story about longing and consent. It also competed at several film festivals.

Adore provoked discussion about aging, desire, and the boundaries of family life. By centering two women choosing happiness outside traditional norms, the film challenged expectations and sparked debates about autonomy, consent, and how communities respond to unconventional relationships. Its provocative premise lingered with some audiences after the credits.

Critics split on tone and ethics, with praise for Watts and Wright's restrained performances while others found the story unsettling. Central themes include the fragility of long standing friendships, the cost of honesty, and the tension between personal happiness and social propriety.

Awards: The film did not receive major nominations, but it drew attention for its mature subject matter and the performances of Watts, Wright, and Mendelsohn. Some critics highlighted its fearless look at desire and the emotional precision of its ensemble.