Breathe (2014 film)

Breathe

Company type	Film
Industry	Film industry
Founded	2014
Founder	Mélanie Laurent (director)
Products	Coming-of-age drama film
Parent	Move Movie, Gaumont, Mely Productions

Breathe () is a 2014 French coming-of-age drama helmed by director Mélanie Laurent, adapted from the novel by Anne-Sophie Brasme. The cast includes Joséphine Japy, Lou de Laâge, and Isabelle Carré. The film debuted in the Critics' Week segment at the 2014 Cannes Film Festival and was also screened in the Contemporary World Cinema category at the 2014 Toronto International Film Festival. Produced through a collaboration between Move Movie, Gaumont, and Mely Productions, the movie had a budget of €3.4 million and earned $1.1 million globally. In 2015, Breathe received three nominations at the 20th Lumière Awards and two nods at the 40th César Awards.

Plot

Charlie, a high school teenager navigating her parents' separation, is tasked with looking after Sarah, a newcomer who recently relocated from Nigeria where her mother is involved in charity work. They quickly develop a close friendship. On All Saints' Day, Sarah confides that her mother cannot join her, so Charlie invites her to spend the holiday with her own mother and friends.

During a holiday break, Sarah’s demeanor changes when Charlie introduces her merely as a classmate rather than a friend. Sarah fluctuates between friendliness and aloofness before ultimately ignoring Charlie at school. When Charlie attempts to address this, she ends up embracing Sarah as if nothing is amiss.

Growing suspicious of Sarah's conduct, Charlie publicly challenges inconsistencies in Sarah’s accounts about her mother among their peers. In response, Sarah threatens to disclose Charlie's secret concerning her abusive father. Determined to uncover the truth, Charlie follows Sarah home and finds that she lives with an alcoholic mother in a troubled neighborhood.

At a New Year's celebration, Charlie reveals she knows about Sarah’s living situation and reassures her that she isn’t cruel. Sarah retaliates by threatening to kill Charlie if she tells anyone, effectively ending their friendship. After overhearing Sarah spreading rumors about her, Charlie threatens to expose Sarah’s home life. In retaliation, Sarah defaces the school with slanderous graffiti targeting Charlie. Despite receiving support from friends, Charlie refrains from confronting the harassment.

Sarah later arrives at Charlie’s home after suffering an injury inflicted by her mother. Charlie forgives her, noting that Sarah only acts out when they are apart. The following day, Sarah again ignores Charlie and gives away a necklace from Charlie’s mother to another student, provoking Charlie to assault that girl.

As summer vacation begins, Sarah comes by to retrieve her belongings and mocks Charlie as an abuser playing the victim role. She reveals her intention to move to Paris for college while Charlie remains in their hometown. In a moment of intense anger and despair, Charlie pushes Sarah; after Sarah falls and laughs, Charlie suffocates her with a pillow.

When Charlie’s mother returns home, Charlie tearfully confesses what has occurred before experiencing a panic attack. Her mother discovers Sarah’s body upstairs and screams. The scene concludes with Charlie calming herself and staring into the camera before fading to black.

Production

Filming took place in Béziers from November 25, 2013, through January 2014.

Reception

The film holds a 93% approval rating on Rotten Tomatoes based on 45 reviews, with an average score of 7.7/10. The critical consensus praises writer-director Mélanie Laurent for crafting a sensitive and well-acted depiction of adolescent turmoil. On Metacritic, it has a score of 78 out of 100 from 17 critics, reflecting generally favorable reviews.