'

Breathe

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Breathe

Released Sep 11, 2015

1h 31m

Drama

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Tomatometer

Popcornmeter

93%

Tomatometer

55 Reviews

79%

Popcornmeter

1,000+ Ratings

Charlie, a 17-year-old girl tortured by doubt, is thrilled when she becomes friends with Sarah, but when Sarah tires of Charlie and looks for a new friend, their relationship takes an ominous turn.

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Critics Consensus

Breathe finds writer-director Mélanie Laurent opening a sensitive, well-acted window into the bittersweet upheaval of adolescence.

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Alison Willmore

BuzzFeed News

Breathe is a deftly observed look at teen power games and how closeness can turn to animosity in one miserable night out.

Dec 4, 2015

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Kate Erbland

Film School Rejects

Laurent has an excellent eye for shot composition, and cinematographer Arnaud Potier's crisp photography aids the director in creating an enviable set of gorgeous and memorable shots, and the film is consistently visually compelling.

Rated: A-

Oct 16, 2015

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Michael O'Sullivan

Washington Post

In some ways it plays like a horror movie, in other ways it's almost a documentary.

Rated: 2.5/4

Oct 15, 2015

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Marya E. Gates

Cool People Have Feelings, Too. (Substack)

Their close bond, however, slowly becomes a hostile, sometimes violent one.

Feb 13, 2024

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Valerie Kalfrin

AWFJ.org

The drama rises on the rich performances of its two leads ... Neither girl is unsympathetic, which makes the ending of Breathe as sad and as startling as it feels inevitable.

Aug 14, 2022

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Q.V. Hough

Vague Visages

"'Breathe' works on various levels thanks to Arnaud Potier's cinematography, Laurent's polished direction and the magnetic charisma of the leads."

Jun 28, 2022

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Jonathan K

Mean Girls but French and not funny... like at all. This is a hard watch. Seriously straight-up sociopath narcissist behavior on full display. It really should’ve been titled "Gaslighting". As a viewer, you know it's going to escalate and end badly. The film does a brilliant job of putting you in the main character’s shoes, her perspective. You completely understand her responses and actions, feeling the pain and chaos of being gaslit and manipulated, the teen angst and hormones. I found myself hating the mean girl, but the movie intentionally doesn't leave room for seeing things from both sides -- it’s a one-sided perspective. Quite an intense ride, and the actresses are all incredible, especially the lead, who absolutely owns the final scene. The movie’s singular vision allows you to empathize with her, even when she shifts from victim to perpetrator. And even after, you’re still feeling her pain, the chaos, and the toxic swirl left by this relationship.

Rated 4 out of 5 stars

04/26/25

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Ashleysmashley

good movie..very realistic

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

04/24/24

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Audience Member

I had to use my inhaler after watching this film.

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

04/20/24

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Conny M

A piece of shit, great ambientance.

Rated 0.5 out of 5 stars

09/25/23

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Audience Member

Intense, if ever you were (or are) a teenager who seemingly attracted drama and toxic people to you this movie is perfect for you to not feel alone; the essence of youth guides the tone for the film and in the midst of social pressure, ecstasy, sex , ego and insecurity most of all the film unravels into an increasingly toxic relationship between two beautiful but insecure teenagers whose jealousy of each other ultimately leads to terrible consequences.

Rated 4.5 out of 5 stars

01/12/23

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Audience Member

Show the manipulation of female friendship and being pushed over the edge by emotional and psychological bullying; thoughtful direction by Laurent and Japy and Laage are superb

Rated 4 out of 5 stars

01/30/23

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Synopsis

Charlie, a 17-year-old girl tortured by doubt, is thrilled when she becomes friends with Sarah, but when Sarah tires of Charlie and looks for a new friend, their relationship takes an ominous turn.

Director: Mélanie Laurent
Producer: Bruno Lévy
Screenwriter: Julien Lambroschini, Mélanie Laurent, Julien Lambroschini
Distributor: Film Movement
Genre: Drama
Original Language: French (France)
Release Date (Theaters): Sep 11, 2015, Limited
Release Date (Streaming): Dec 29, 2016
Box Office (Gross USA): $42.3K
Runtime: 1h 31m

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