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Leading up to this year’s Academy Awards, France had a difficult decision to make regarding which film would represent the country in the Best International Feature Film competition. While Les Misérables was chosen—and received the Oscar nod—many were surprised that it was chosen over another French release, Portrait of a Lady on Fire.
Portrait of a Lady on Fire travels to a remote island with Marianne (Noémie Merlant), a young painter who’s been commissioned to paint a portrait of a young bride-to-be. The catch, however, is that the painting must be done without Héloïse (Adèle Haenel) knowing about it—because she disapproves of the marriage and refuses to pose for a wedding portrait. Instead, Marianne acts as a companion and protector by day and paints at night. And as the two women spend more time together, they gradually create a strong bond.
With its seaside setting and its unhurried storytelling, this quiet French drama is the opposite of its noisy and frenetic Oscar-nominated counterpart. It certainly feels more characteristically French. It takes its time developing the story—not through dialogue but through silent, lingering glances. Told from the perspective of the young painter who’s trying to memorize her subject’s lines and features so she can recreate them on her canvas, it’s often filmed in tight shots of eyes and ears and noses. But it soon becomes clear that there’s more to the glances than simply the observations of a woman who’s just trying to do her job. And as the two characters spend hours alone together, that gaze goes both ways.
Meanwhile, Marianne may be the silent observer for much of the film, but she seems to change the dynamic in the home. Her arrival helps Héloïse’s mother (Valeria Golino) forget about her family’s pain and tragedy long enough to enjoy a good laugh. She befriends the young servant, Sophie (Luàna Bajrami), and gives her someone to confide in. Her companionship allows Héloïse to leave the house and explore the beaches—and, eventually, to find happiness beyond the anger she feels about her impending marriage. And though the painting brings these women together, their story goes much deeper.
Quietly told and lovingly filmed with an eye for detail, Portrait of a Lady on Fire still isn’t a film for everyone. Much of the story is unspoken, and its pacing is deliberate. Yet it’s a striking work of art—a subtle yet beautiful story about friendship and love and painting.
Listen to the review on Reel Discovery:
