Follow in the footsteps of Adèle and Emma and discover Northern France
“Blue is a warm color” – this phrase resonates differently after experiencing Abdellatif Kechiche’s masterpiece. In 2013, “Blue Is the Warmest Color” (La Vie d’Adèle : Chapitres 1 & 2) won the Palme d’Or at Cannes and forever etched in our memories the passionate love story between Adèle and Emma.
But beyond its devastating performances and audacious direction, the film gives us a sun-drenched and yet unsentimental portrait of Northern France, far from the usual clichés. Join us on a journey through the filming locations of this exceptional work that transformed Lille, Roubaix, and Liévin into backdrops for an unforgettable lesbian cinematic romance.
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Lille
Grand’Place de Lille
It’s on Lille’s emblematic Grand’Place (officially Place du Général-de-Gaulle) that Adèle meets Thomas, the high school boy who becomes her first love before she discovers her true nature. This historic square, with its restored Flemish facades and unique architecture, becomes the silent witness to Adèle’s first questioning of her identity.
Adèle is a character in the film – not to be confused with the amiable songstress from Tottenham.
Insider tip: Visit preferably in the morning when golden light reflects on the baroque facades and the square gently awakens, exactly as in the film’s opening scenes.
Place Richebé
This charming little square in Old Lille served as the backdrop for several crucial scenes. It’s here that Adèle first crosses paths with Emma, the blue-haired woman who will turn her life upside down. The magic of this chance encounter takes on its full dimension in this intimate setting of the historic quarter.
13 Rue de la Barre
This Lille address houses the bar where Adèle and Emma truly meet for the first time. The Old Lille neighborhood, with its cobblestone streets and warm estaminets (traditional pubs), is the perfect setting for this scene of delicate and emotionally charged approach.
Lille Flandres Station
A symbol of departures and arrivals, Lille Flandres station appears in several sequences, serving as a metaphor for the changes occurring in Adèle’s life.
Roubaix
La Piscine Museum – Temple of Art and Soul
We can’t discuss the filming locations without mentioning this architectural gem. The former Art Deco swimming pool converted into a museum of art and industry provides an ideal setting for one of the film’s standout scenes. In this sequence, bathed in Mozart’s Clarinet Concerto K 622, Emma shares her passion for art with Adèle. The beauty of the place, with its pools transformed into exhibition halls and preserved mosaics, creates a suitably dramatic setting.
Visit the museum in late afternoon when the light filters through the glass roof, creating the same magical atmosphere captured by Kechiche’s cameras.
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The Art of Filming Northern France
Kechiche’s Vision
One of the most remarkable aspects of “Blue Is the Warmest Color” is how Abdellatif Kechiche films Northern France. Far from the stereotypes of gray weather and post-industrial gloom, the director presents the region in a sunny light, particularly during the first part of the film which takes place during summer days.
This choice is far from trivial: just as Adèle discovers love and her identity, the North reveals its hidden beauty. Kechiche remembers the great Flemish painters who knew how to magnify the beautiful light of the North.
A Demanding Production
Initially planned for two and a half months, filming lasted five months, from March to August 2012, with a budget of €4 million. The production shot over 750 hours of dailies, with Kechiche using Canon EOS C300 cameras and Angénieux zoom lenses to capture every nuance of emotion.
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The Cultural Legacy
The film’s critical success – winner of the Palme d’Or and acclaimed by over 40 international critics as one of the ten best films of 2013 – has put these Northern French locations on the cinematic map. Kechiche managed to capture the soul of these places while telling a universal story about love and growing up.
“Blue Is the Warmest Color” accomplished something rare: it revealed the hidden beauty of a region often overlooked by mainstream tourism. Whether you’re a cinephile, a lover of French culture, or simply curious to discover new horizons, following in the footsteps of “Blue Is the Warmest Color” gives you a unique insight into this part of Northern France.
It’s a great excuse to explore an authentic side of France that feels far removed from the usual tourist hotspots.
