Don’t regret. Remember.|Jun. 17, 2019|France|120 Min.|R
Genre: Drama;Romance
Description: “Portrait of a Lady on Fire,” released in 2019, is a captivating film that tells a deeply emotional story. Set in late 18th-century France, the narrative follows Marianne, a talented painter who takes on the task of creating a portrait of Héloïse, a young woman from the gentry. Héloïse is destined to marry a nobleman from Milan, but she is reluctant to pose for the portrait, as she opposes the marriage. Marianne is secretly commissioned to paint Héloïse by her mother, the Countess, and accompanies her on walks along the Brittany coastline to study her features in detail.
Marianne completes the portrait but struggles with her conscience, ultimately revealing her true purpose to Héloïse. Dissatisfied with the painting, which she feels fails to capture her essence, Héloïse criticizes the work, leading Marianne to destroy it. Despite this, Héloïse agrees to pose again while her mother is away. As the two women spend more time together, their bond deepens. They engage in intellectual discussions, such as the myth of Orpheus and Eurydice, and support Sophie, the maid, during a personal crisis. Their connection grows stronger, marked by moments of intimacy, including a scene at a bonfire gathering where Héloïse’s dress catches fire briefly.
The film beautifully explores themes of art, love, and freedom, leaving a lasting impression on its audience.”
Cast director: Céline Sciamma
Cast actor: Noémie Merlant, Adèle Haenel, Luàna Bajrami, Valeria Golino, Christel Baras, Armande Boulanger, Guy Delamarche, Clément Bouyssou, Michèle Clément, Cécile Morel
Original name: Portrait de la jeune fille en feu