I need to do a little analysis on the Avatrice kiss because this is just so beautiful and well done:
It’s the way you can almost see how unsure and hesitant Ava is to kiss Beatrice.
you just know she’s been holding back for Beatrice’s sake because she’s aware of how much Beatrice has struggled . . . I mean HOW many times did Ava look at Beatrice like she wanted to kiss her but she never did?
you can kind of see that inner monologue with Ava right before she leans in towards Beatrice. You can see how her eyes scan over Beatrice’s with a wave of uncertainty, how she lets out a breath right before, and then she just kisses her. You can see her make the decision. She’s face to face with Beatrice, she’s about to sacrifice herself, and all she really wanted to do is kiss the person she loves. It was her act of selfishness within a selfless moment. She knows she doesn’t have anymore time with Beatrice and she needed to show her how she felt and have the longing subside only if for a second.
And then when Ava finally does kiss Beatrice you can see how gentle it is. She doesn’t want to overwhelm Beatrice and all she does is gently press her lips against hers, she doesn’t touch her, she doesn’t pull her close, all she does is gently lean forward. And when Beatrice doesn’t kiss her back right away you can see Ava slowly start to retreat, but Beatrice kisses her back right before. Only then does Ava lift a careful and hesitant hand to Beatrice’s face and deepens the kiss.
And then the forehead kiss?? Don’t even get me started. It’s the sweetest little gesture on Ava’s part. It’s showing her unconditional love towards Beatrice and it’s tell Beatrice that “it’s okay”. It’s okay to love who you want, it’s okay to feel the way that you do, it’s okay that I’m about to DIE so that you can live. Like UGH. I can’t.
And let’s not even MENTION the TEAR that fell off of Ava’s cheek as she closed her eyes when leaning in to kiss Beatrice. Like don’t devastate me further.
“Our deepest fear is not that we are inadequate. Our deepest fear is that we are powerful beyond measure. It is our light, not our darkness, that most frightens us. Your playing small does not serve the world. There is nothing enlightened about shrinking so that other people won't feel insecure around you. We are all meant to shine as children do. It's not just in some of us; it is in everyone. And as we let our own light shine, we unconsciously give other people permission to do the same. As we are liberated from our own fear, our presence automatically liberates others.”