Portrait of a Lady on Fire

Portrait of a Lady on Fire

Starring Noemie Merlant, Adele Haenel, Luana Bairami, Valeria Golino

Directed by Celine Sciamma

I've never been able to draw or paint anything remotely beautiful, and I've always admired artists who are able to create something out of nothing, and to do more than just that - but capture the sheer essence as well.  Some paintings tend to speak to the observer in deep, personal ways, while others appear bland and almost inconsequential, and it all comes down to the vision of the artist: if it's something out of an abundance of their desire, the painting takes on a life of its own.  Conversely, if an artist is hired by someone to paint something wholly unoriginal and not within the painter's own view, it'll still be pretty to look at, but lacking the depth of soul that an artist intrinsically releases from themselves into the canvas.

"Portrait of a Lady on Fire" is much more than just about a painting, and much more than just a movie about a painting.  It has its own unique soul to it, given life by acclaimed director Celine Sciamma that emulates from beginning to end, offering a unique cinematic experience in that it doesn't include any musical score, but rather lets you admire it for what it is: a piece of art that's a feast for the eyes and uplifting to the soul, a movie that - like soulful paintings - takes on a life of its own.

At the end of the eighteenth century, artist Marianne (Noemie Merlant) is hired by the wealthy La Comtesse (Valeria Golino) to paint a portrait of her daughter Heloise (Adele Haenel), who's set to be wed to a nobleman.  The only issue is that Heloise doesn't wish to wed, nor have her portrait made, so Marianne is brought it under the guise of being a guide for Heloise and paint her in secret.  At first the two women are strangers, but as they spend more time together, they open up to each other, and Marianne begins to learn Heloise's soul and is able to fully paint a perfect portrait of her, due to her growing fondness for her, and vice versa.

"Portrait" takes a lot of risks, and each risk pays off in dividends.  Not relying on any musical score opens the film up to a more intimate look when you're not mentally divided by the music playing and the events occurring on-screen, and you're immediately, intimately drawn to every frame shot.  But with the careful, intimate work of cinematographer Claire Mathon, the film opens itself up to reveal a painting-in-motion, a canvas that's continually revealed to be that of sheer, utter beauty.  The backdrop of the film is exquisite, with pristine ocean views and lavish natural land formations that are tailor-made for a film of this caliber, but it's the characters who embody the totality of the film.  Even when dialogue isn't spoken, you can see the emotion, the paragraphs of words unsaid with a simple glance, a steely gaze, a piercing stare, a furrowed brow or even a cracked smile.  No words need to be spoken for you to understand, and no music is needed to heighten the emotion - it's all right there.

The film was shot in 8k, giving it a much richer feel to the color palette than typical 35mm, resulting in every scene looking like a beautiful painting in and of itself, and also due to the precise, purposeful choreography of the characters, make you feel like you're seeing a painting on the move.  That's another gamble that paid off brilliantly, as you see inside the souls of the characters in ways that you wouldn't normally be able to see in 35mm style, leaving a lasting impression and letting you know that you're not seeing a soulless copy, but the genuine deal.


The performances are as eloquent as you'd expect from muses being painted by a master artist.  Noemie Merlant portrays Marianne as a fierce, strong woman who's also struggling with her growing feelings for Heloise and her "deceitful" purpose for being with her, and as the two begin their relationship, you see Marianne opening up in unique, passionate ways that only Merlant can achieve.  Equally, Adele Haenel (a frequent collaborator with director Sciamma, and also her ex-lover) proves Heloise is indeed a lady on fire, a free spirit who doesn't desire to wed a man she's never met, and showcases a strong, spirited soul that is impossible to tame - until she meets Marianne, and she as well opens herself up to new possibilities.

You feel the emotional depth of the characters and their interactions are so nuanced yet profound.  You're forced to watch every moment, with absolutely no regret due to the lavish beauty you're witnessing.  Not just the physical, but the mental and thoughtful as well - there's a soul-crushing comparison made in this film to the story of Orpheus and Eurydice that left me gasping, along with the final moment of the film which was a one-shot 2:27 long focus into the very soul.  Much like "Call Me By Your Name," "Portrait" is hauntingly beautiful as well as emotionally riveting, and if you don't have at least one tear a the end, I'd be surprised.

Not just filled with perfect performances, "Portrait of a Lady on Fire" offers a full-blown experience, an artwork set to life, an eternal piece of art that'll resonate for decades to come, like the most ethereal paintings in the most lavish museums.

The Score: A+