We are told that it is a spectacularly engrossing film. We are told that its two young lead actresses give eye-popping performances. We are told that the French film "Blue is the Warmest Color" - a three hour lesbian extravaganza - is  the most "sensational win at Cannes in years."

We are also informed that there is a 12 minute "no holds barred" lesbian sex scene that is "mind blowing."

I have a fairly expansive view of what is art and what isn't. If beauty is indeed in the eye of the beholder, who am I to say that a 3 hour film about lesbians doesn't meet that standard?

But art without boundaries, without a sense of its place in the culture, or without an appreciation and respect for society's values is nothing more than schlock. And "realistically" portraying lesbian sex in a film is as schlocky as it gets.

Would a film realistically portraying heterosexual sex for 12 minutes have gotten the prestigious Palm D'Or? Should we judge a film based on a 12 minute scene, no matter if it's objectionable or not?

The Daily Mail:

The prestigious Palme d'Or award at the Cannes Film Festival was last night awarded to a steamy three-hour movie about a lesbian love affair.

'Blue Is the Warmest Colour' took the prize for the best film from a jury led by Steven Spielberg and Nicole Kidman.

One scene includes a no-holds-barred twelve minute erotic sex scene between two women, played by Lea Seydoux and Adele Exarchopoulos, that leaves absolutely nothing to the imagination.

[...]

During the gala the audience sat in silence and craned their necks as if to get a better view of the steamy scenes unfolding in plain sight on the huge screen.

It's the most sensational win at Cannes in years.

The three hour movie directed by Abdellatif Kechiche becomes an instant classic not just because of its graphic sex but also because of the mind-blowing performances of its two young stars.

Seydoux plays Emma a fine arts student and painter with blue hair who meets a 17 year old student ,played magnificently by Exarchopoulos.

There are ways to portray lovemaking on screen - even lesbian or gay lovemaking - in a subdued, even tasteful manner. Nor am I arguing against making lesbian or gay films. These films will always offend some, no matter if there is any sex or not. They can make their own arguments why they think films that deal frankly with homosexuality are offensive.

But Cannes has jumped the shark by rewarding this prurient descent into pornography. If the film is as good as the critics say, they can lose the 12 minutes of sex and few in the audience - except porn aficionados - would miss it.