Water Lilies

Marie spends a scorching summer in a flat suburb outside Paris, chasing a place on the local pool's synchronized swimming team. But the real heat isn't only from the sun, it's from the uncertain leanings of adolescence. Marie's ambition to qualify becomes tangled with her infatuation for Floriane, the fearless rebel of the group. As friendships tighten and tensions rise, the pool, the lineup, and the competitive drills become mirrors for longing and self discovery. Céline Sciamma watches these moments with quiet attention, letting desire and doubt surface without forcing answers or easy conclusions.

Released in 2007 and directed by Céline Sciamma, Water Lilies is built from an original screenplay rather than an adaptation, marking the director's debut feature as she captures adolescence with an intimate, grounded eye.

Box office figures for this indie drama aren't widely published, reflecting its art house release and limited footprint in theaters.

The film helped establish Sciamma's understated approach to teen desire and female friendship, a tone she would refine in later work. Even in small scenes, Water Lilies shows how quiet moments can carry heat and meaning in a coming of age story.

Critics praised the film for its restrained mood and honest look at longing, identity, and the pull between belonging and attraction. It treats adolescence with a patient eye, balancing vulnerability with a stubborn sense of self and boundary setting.