The film suggests that the bond between Roz and Lil is the "top" relationship in their lives—more foundational and lasting than their relationships with their sons, deceased husbands, or the young women their sons eventually meet. Age and Desire
Then, the line blurs. Lil’s son Ian (Xavier Samuel), now a chiseled 20-year-old, kisses Roz. Shortly after, Roz’s son Tom (James Frecheville) reciprocates with Lil. What begins as a secret becomes an open arrangement. For years, the four share a tangled domestic life, until the inevitable weight of jealousy, betrayal, and social ruin crashes down.
Upon its debut at the Sundance Film Festival, Adore sharply divided critics. While some dismissed the premise as absurd or uncomfortable, others praised it as a bold, visually intoxicating exploration of female desire and unconventional love.
It premiered at the 2013 Sundance Film Festival and saw a limited theatrical release in September 2013 Source Material:
Adore is a challenging film. For some, it is a beautiful, lyrical exploration of love that defies boundaries. For others, it is a disturbing fantasy that glosses over the psychological damage of such entanglements. adore 2013 top
: Stars Naomi Watts (Lil) and Robin Wright (Roz) as the mothers, with Xavier Samuel (Ian) and James Frecheville (Tom) as the sons.
That top became her armor. She wore it on her first day as an intern at a publishing house. She wore it when she met her best friend’s newborn daughter. She wore it the afternoon her mother called to say the cancer was back. The lace had seen joy. It had seen tears. It had been clutched in her fists during panic attacks in bathroom stalls.
The story follows Lil (Watts) and Roz (Wright), two inseparable neighbors in a secluded Australian beach town whose bond is mirrored by their sons, Ian and Tom. After Roz's husband moves away for work and Lil’s husband passes away, the four spend their days in an idyllic, sun-drenched landscape that feels isolated from societal norms.
The primary reason Adore works as a serious dramatic piece rather than a low-tier soap opera lies in the caliber of its actresses. and Robin Wright provide deeply grounded, emotionally complex performances. They avoid playing the characters as predatory or malicious; instead, they capture the genuine confusion, deep-seated loneliness, and intoxicating happiness found in an unconventional arrangement. 2. The Idyllic Visual Aesthetics The film suggests that the bond between Roz
: These secret relationships persist for years, surviving even after the sons marry and have their own children. The narrative eventually forces the four to confront the moral and emotional consequences of their choices when the affairs are finally exposed. Themes and Style Adore (2013)
To understand why we adored these tops, we have to look at who was wearing them. 2013 was the peak of the "Taylor Swift Transition"—moving from country curls to sleek straightened hair and red lips, often sporting a vintage-inspired peplum top.
When released, mainstream reviewers struggled with the film’s moral ambiguity and serious execution. However, viewing figures and contemporary retrospects place it at the top tier of mid-budget psychological dramas due to its uncompromising artistic vision. Critic Consensus (Low) Fan/Niche Perspective (Top) Absurd, unbelievable premise. Mythological, operates like a Greek tragedy. Acting Style Described as wooden or overly cold. Intentionally understated, relying heavily on subtext. Tone Lacks standard Hollywood humor and rhythm. Hypnotic, atmospheric, and unhurried. The Climax and Lasting Impact
Lena folded the top carefully, not back into the bin, but onto her bed. She wouldn’t wear it again—it was too fragile now, like the memories themselves. But she wouldn’t bury it either. Upon its debut at the Sundance Film Festival,
Based on Doris Lessing’s 2003 novella The Grandmothers , the film introduces Lil (Watts) and Roz (Wright). They are childhood companions living in a breathtaking coastal paradise—a fictional town called Kiama where the Pacific crashes against volcanic rocks and sunlight filters through eucalyptus leaves. They swim naked. They finish each other’s sentences. Their husbands are either dead or absent.
By 2015, the top was faded. One pearl button was missing. The hem had begun to unravel. But she couldn’t throw it away.
If you lived through the early 2010s, you remember the specific electric energy of 2013. It was the year of Blurred Lines on the radio, Breaking Bad on our screens, and a very specific aesthetic dominating Tumblr and Instagram feeds. This was the era of "Indie Sleaze" morphing into polished pop, and right at the center of the wardrobe was the garment we now look back on with rose-colored glasses: the Adore 2013 Top.
The climax brings a necessary, albeit painful, resolution where reality finally sets in, leading to the dissolution of the relationships. Legacy of Adore
Naomi Watts and Robin Wright deliver raw, nuanced performances, navigating complex emotional territory.