Great atmosphere and soundtrack.

How is this film not on any official lists?!

The translators really pulled a softening number on the French coming of age film "Naissance des pieuvres" (Birth of the Squids) by calling it Water Lilies, the original title better suited to the tale of late bloomers discovering their sexuality and sexual identity adjacent to the world of synchronized swimming (so how do you swim with others rather than stand out, or stand on the side of the pool). The film is mostly concerned with 15-year-old Marie (Pauline Acquart) and her attraction to the popular (but "bad") girl who leads the swim team (Floriane, played by Adèle Haenel), and at least initially, the gay subtext is just that - wanting to be someone being confused into loving someone - but things evolve from there. Does Floriane reciprocate, or is she just seeking an intimate friendship, or else simply manipulating others for selfish reasons? Why do these have to be mutually exclusive? Céline Sciamma's film is too subtle for that kind of reasoning, and growing up too complex for blanket statements.