There is probably no living director who can do what Abdellatif Kechiche can with actors. His amazing collaborations are incomparable. He pulls out some of the most natural and stirring performances from people who often have little experience. When Blue Is the Warmest Color burst onto the scene via Cannes with the Palme d’Or and best actress wins for the film’s two leads, nearly every film critics group, from the Florida Film Critics Circle to the Central Ohio Film Critics Association, to the big shots in New York to L.A., gave it the best foreign language picture.
Source: www.miaminewtimes.com