To Each, Her Own 2018 Movie Review

『A Story of Facing the Truth of Love Through Complex Emotions and Self-Exploration』

🎥 Movie Overview

🎬 Title: To Each, Her Own (Les Goûts et les Couleurs, 2018)
🌍 Country: 🇫🇷 France
🎞️ Genre: Comedy / Drama / Romance
⏳ Runtime: 95 minutes
📢 Director: Myriam Aziza

👩‍💼 Cast: Sarah Stern – Simone Benlulu
Jean-Christophe Folly – Wally
Julia Piaton – Claire

🧩 Deep Dive into the Story (Spoilers)

🍲 The Spectrum of Taste and Identity Confusion

Simone has been living with her girlfriend Claire for three years, but she hides this fact from her traditional Jewish family. Her parents are conservative, and because her brother has already come out as gay, Simone feels even more burdened about revealing her own sexual identity.

One day, Simone unexpectedly finds herself attracted to a charming Senegalese chef named Wally, and their relationship shakes the foundation of her life. Torn between her stable same-sex relationship with Claire, her newfound attraction to Wally, and the pressure of her family’s expectations, Simone faces a dilemma about discovering her true “taste and color.”

💬 The Fluidity of Sexual Identity and the Absence of “Bisexuality”

One of the film’s most notable aspects is that it never explicitly addresses Simone’s bisexuality. Although she has always loved women, she experiences an intense attraction to Wally for the first time, leaving her confused. The film avoids labeling her as “bisexual” and instead portrays her as someone whose “taste has expanded.”

Some critics argue that this fails to properly represent bisexuality, potentially framing it as “greedy attraction to both sides.” However, others praise the film for realistically illustrating how fluid and complex human emotions can be before labels even exist. Simone doesn’t want to lose either Claire or Wally, standing beyond the binary spectrum of heterosexuality and homosexuality.

🏠 The Crossroads of Cultural and Religious Conflict

The film explores not only sexual identity but also the intersection of religion, race, and culture through the relationship between Simone, a Jewish woman, and Wally, a Muslim man. Simone’s family struggles to accept her homosexuality within their conservative Jewish traditions, while Wally’s family harbors prejudice against Jews.

This intersectionality intensifies Simone’s internal conflict. Her struggle is not just about sexual desire, but also about fighting for the acceptance of the people she loves within her family and society.

🎭 Coming Out and the Weight of Family Expectations

Even though Simone’s brother has already come out as gay, she fears that doing so herself might completely devastate their conservative parents. This highlights a common dilemma among many LGBTQ+ individuals — the conflict between “my happiness vs. my family’s peace and expectations.” The film presents this tension with a touch of comedy but also portrays how Simone’s lies and avoidance eventually hurt those around her, underscoring the theme of accountability.

🎥 The Weight Beneath the Lightness of French Comedy

This work follows the format of a typical French romantic comedy. With its brisk pacing, elegant Parisian setting, and comedic tone, the film keeps heavy subjects approachable and engaging.

Sarah Stern gives a nuanced performance as Simone, capturing her confusion, anxiety, and occasional selfishness — presenting her not as an idealized heroine but as a deeply human character.

However, the ending is the most divisive part of the film. When Simone seemingly chooses both Claire and Wally — implying a three-way relationship — some viewers interpret it as a bold and progressive resolution, while others find it unrealistic and overly simplified. The fact that both partners accept this situation so easily has also drawn criticism.

🌍 A New Perspective on Bisexuality

To Each, Her Own goes beyond being just a romantic comedy — it paints a portrait of modern individuals whose boundaries of sexuality, religion, culture, and identity are blurring. Through Simone’s journey, the film conveys the message that “love has no fixed taste or color.”

While the film may not be flawless, it offers an honest and sometimes quirky exploration of identity, leaving viewers to reflect on their own question: “What is my taste and my true color?”

🎯 Personal Rating (by Preference)

💕 Love Scene Intensity: ♥♥♥
⭐ Rating: ★★★