PORTRAIT DE LA JEUNE FILLE EN FEU / PORTRAIT OF A LADY ON FIRE
Céline SCIAMMA — FRANCE — 120 minutes
IN A NUTSHELL
Set in the 18th Century, the film follows artist Marianne (Noémie Merlant) who has been hired by Italian noblewoman (Valeria Golino) as a companion for her beautiful daughter, Héloïse (Adèle Haenel), Marianne has been set with the task of painting a portrait of Héloïse in secret, to be shown to a wealthy prospective husband in Milan. All of the other artists have failed to get the portrait before. (words by Bianca Garner)
CRITICAL RESPONSE
“Céline Sciamma’s first foray into period drama starts out as a cautiously demure watercolour wash but gradually builds into a vivid, full-blooded oil portrait of the stolen romantic relationship between two young women. Entirely female-led cinema is still enough of a novelty for this to add appeal to an already attractive package. Arthouse audiences will be intrigued to discover how Sciamma has channelled the fluid energy of her contemporary work into the more constrained environment of a costume drama.” — Wendy Ide, Screen Daily
“Ultimately, Sciamma is likely to get the lioness’ share of praise for this wonderful film, but the contributions from the cast, especially Merlant and Haenel, are huge factors in its success. The two have combustible, practically fissile chemistry, felt not just in the love scenes but from the dramatic moment when they first see one another’s faces at the end of a long bravura tracking shot. Not a moment in this film is wasted, which suits a story about lovers without a moment to lose.” — Leslie Felperin, The Hollywood Reporter
“Sciamma’s deliriously moving film is laser-focused on the space between having something and keeping something, and she visualizes that space by creating a sliver of distance between her characters and their shadows. From the arresting first shots to its all-timer of a final shot and a second act choral performance that might even top the Rihanna singalong in Girlhood, Portrait of a Girl on Fire is an unforgettable film that cooks at a low simmer until going incandescent in its closing minutes.” — David Ehrlich, IndieWire
PRIZE PROSPECTS
It was perhaps only a matter of time before French filmmaker, Céline Sciamma, hit one out of the park after impressing with Water Lilies, Tomboy, and Girlhood. The Cannes Film Festival is a great spot for being catapulted out into the world where many have not seen your work. And Sciamma deserves, and has earned, the status as one of the most talented writer-directors out there. Man or woman. Portrait of a Lady on Fire will see Sciamma take a big prize on Saturday.
Period films with empowering women have come and gone at Cannes in recent years, with the likes of The Handmaiden and The Beguiled nabbing prizes at the festival. They are a rare thing these days, though, but Portrait of a Lady on Fire‘s instant magnetism comes from its lavish, but also intimate, handling of the genre. Look out for those actresses too. Noémie Merlant might give the film its second prize. Or perhaps a shared Best Actress with Adèle Haenel and co. The Queer Palm looks good money as well. (words by Robin Write)
