Portrait of a Lady on Fire

UK Release Date: 14 February 2020
Certification: 15
Director: Céline Sciamma
Cast: Luàna Bajrami, Valeria Golino, Adèle Haenel, Noémie Merlant

Rating: 95%

                                                                                                                                                   

Review: 

What a beautiful film. Portrait of a Lady on Fire is mesmerising. Every scene, shot and frame is displayed as if it is an artist's masterful work, their most esteemed painting. The whole film is painstakingly though out in terms of colour, lighting, backdrop - meticulously crafted in a stunning manner. Claire Mathon's cinematography is simply gorgeous. One of the best looking films of the 21st century. 

The dynamic between the three central women is spectacular. Firstly as a friendship - Marianne, Héloïse and Sophie form a close bond. Their rapport bleeds through the screen, never failing to put a smile on my face. But the romance between Marianne (Noémie Merlant) and Héloïse (Adèle Haenel) is the real heart of Portrait of a Lady on Fire. They're fantastic together with each moment shared. Merlant's facial expressions and eye movements convey everything that the audience has to know. As Tony Montana once said, "The eyes, chico. They never lie." She doesn't give much away and yet these two characters understand tiny details about one another, highlighting their chemistry. A palpable tension is there immediately, an unspoken attraction. These actresses give a convincing performance to the point where the audience wholeheartedly buys into this relationship as if it wasn't on the screen and instead a real life connection. 

It's an excellent decision from Céline Sciamma to go the majority of Portrait of a Lady on Fire without a score. Crashing waves, distant footsteps and soft delivery of dialogue - that is the film's score. The audience is allowed to sit with each sound for a lot longer. It results in a raw and authentic experience. 

Saying that, when the film does utilise music for a brief period it's delightful. 'La Jeune Fille en Feu' is a wonderful composition of choir voices, orchestral-like sounds and vibrant clapping brought together divinely by Arthur Simonini. 

Portrait of a Lady on Fire is most definitely a slow-burn. The first 45 minutes sort of drift by, not much happens plotwise but the filmmaking prevails to retain intrigue. But once the film gets going its an enchanting watch. The last 15 minutes is utter perfection. Sincere and honest - not giving the audience or the characters a stereotypical, undeserving happy ending. It is filled with heartbreaking detail that makes me adore this film.