The sex scenes ruined the realism of the movie.

I do agree there was a carnal bond between the two girls (a bond that continues platonically to this day for the actresses in real life). I have felt that in my life; it stems from passion and it cannot be faked. The first scene felt only slightly awkward, but you can imagine trying to do a scene like that with someone you've only just met. In the latter scenes, the bonds had formed and we can sense this in their acting. However, I do give credit to Léa. She displayed a rare type of tenderness in her passionate love-making. And to Adèle's impression of exploring your sexual identity ~ she displays this with a naïveté. My first times were likewise louder and passionate. In other words, believable and not experienced adult film star by any stretch of the imagination. Regarding Adèle's encounter in high school, I have personally felt and did exactly as presented here; realistic.

The scenes, while lengthy, showcased this passion the two girls shared. It is rare to come about and does not always happen with a pairing - as mentioned in Emma's later relationship. As for the "porn-like feel", I would have to disagree because I have and do watch pornographic scenes. Yes, they shared and displayed raw passion for each other. Perhaps Emma was a good teacher and Adèle was a fast learner. Or perhaps when two people come together in such a way with all factors and forces aligning, it can make the encounters seem experienced, like two souls re-uniting and burning as one. Interestingly, this description can fit with regards to sexuality and not carry on further in a relationship. This they possessed initially along with a great caring and support of each other which, like many couples before them, drifted over time. And, like the many couples before them, they will continue to share that "infinite tenderness" despite needing to go separate paths in their lives. To me, their relationship overall (including the sex scenes) were wholly believable.

I don't mean that the incorporation of sex scenes ruined the realism... That's not what I meant at all. I merely meant the execution. For example, things like during Adele's first time she starts off on top. There is no awkwardness to the sexual encounter at all... yet we later see her unhappy. But that discomfort is not portrayed during the encounter itself. This is what I meant about the scenes not being realistic. Adele seems too experienced a lover for a girl who is losing her virginity. Same goes for her first sexual encounter with Adele.

I don't really agree. Her oral skills were that of a novice and her finger penetration needed more work.

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Indeed on the last sentence. In fact Adele's tongue action was quite poor in several ways. She barely used it on her partner's snatch and there was not much use of saliva either. Clearly a first timer. I don't know what these people are talking about when they say that it was unrealistic for a first timer.

You got that right! Not a shred of eroticism or sensuality. The very thing missing from straight up pornography. Just the act.

People are getting hung up on the word 'unrealistic.' Perhaps there's a better word for those who can't seem to the point of the OP. The best I can come up with is 'contradiction.' Certainly these scenes seem to contradict the central theme of a young girl exploring her sexuality. At least her inexperience was the impression I got. So that first scene was a contradiction to the supposed story of the character.

For me it comes down to this: if I want to see sex, I can just go to a porn site and goodness knows there are plenty. When I go to a film, I want to go on a journey of the characters' stories. I don't need to see them 'pee.' Unless, there is an absolute reason for me to see it in terms of the story that's being told.

To me, the director filmed it from the same pov as the poster trolling this thread. Let's see the build up to such physical passion: the seduction. Give me some sensuality, eroticism, not scenes that serve as a catalyst for male erections. I really felt the sex scenes were heavy-handed. And I would have felt the same, perhaps more so, if they had been between a man and a woman.

So I agree, unrealistic in the sense of implausible is what they were.

oh, I so disagree. I found the sex to be anything but robotic and/or wooden. And I saw much French-kissing, not just on their mouths, but they tongued one another all over. When Adele is licking and sucking Lea's fingers & hand in the cafe, toward the end of the film, wow. Very sensual, IMO.

Yeah. I'm no Kinsey, but most of what I saw didn't look very enjoyable. Some of it seemed like it would be downright painful.

And I'm not going to knock the lack of wonder or sapphic tenderness in their first encounter because that criticism is a little hokey. Plenty of people skip the foreplay and get straight to it the first time they have sex; it's not always "pretty". But that stuff just didn't look fun in any world except Abdellatif Kechiche's perverted brain.