ARNOLD AT THE MOVIES
  • Movie Reviews
  • Review Archive
  • Yearly Favorites
  • All-Time
  • Features
  • Contact

Review: Portrait of a Lady on Fire

11/27/2019

0 Comments

 
Picture

Portrait of a Lady on Fire (Portrait de la jeune fille en feu) is an exquisite film, that’s both beautifully crafted and emotionally cunning. It's also one of the best films of the year.


This rich period piece of 18th century France is a moving portrait of the human connection. Director Céline Sciamma captures the very essence of love and heartbreak. Actors Noémie Merlant and Adèle Haenel are powerful from the first to the final frame. This thought-provoking drama is one of the very best to be released this fall season. In the end, it will steal your heart. France, 1760. Marianne (a powerful Noémie Merlant) is commissioned to paint the wedding portrait of Héloïse (a fierce Adèle Haenel), a young woman who has just left the convent. Because Héloïse is a reluctant bride-to-be, Marianne arrives under the disguise of companionship, observing Héloïse by day and secretly painting her by firelight at night.
Picture
Later in the film, as the two women orbit one another, intimacy and attraction grow and Héloïse finally breaks free of her pain. Héloïse's portrait guided by Marianne's steady hand soon becomes a collaborative bond and a testament to their love for one another. Portrait of a Lady on Fire is a richly rewarding masterpiece that avoids the stereotypical tropes of the 'male gaze'. This is all because of director Céline Sciamma's vivid vision for the film, as she gives it an underlying theme of gentleness and passion. Sciamma is also in a relationship with actress Adèle Haenel (Héloïse in the film). These two aspects allowed Sciamma to showcase the perspective of a woman's heart and mind through the eyes of a female director and an exclusively female cast. This slow-burning portrait of love and heartache seeps right into your bones.

Portrait of a Lady on Fire showcases its exquisite storytelling, vivid characters, and beautiful scenery — all to come full circle and to ignite the flame inside you. As we travel from scene to scene the sensation builds and the continuous fire crackles louder. A roaring period piece full of life, love, and heartbreak; Portrait of a Lady on Fire receives 5 stars from me. Portrait is an essay on the 'female gaze' and is one that should be studied for future films to follow. Sciamma guides her poetic hand throughout the picture, while Merlant and Haenel dig deep into their marvelous performances. They're intoxicating as is this movie. Portrait of a Lady on Fire is a deeply stirring romance full of feminism and spiritual awakening. Portrait will be shown for exclusive one-week engagements in New York & Los Angeles beginning December 6 and in theaters everywhere Valentine's Day 2020. In Portrait de la jeune fille en feu, body language is crucial and love is forever.

Portrait of a Lady on Fire is rated R (Restricted). For some nudity and sexuality.
0 Comments



Leave a Reply.

    Picture

    Ryan Arnold 

    Welcome to
    ​Arnold At The Movies

    Ripe Banana Approved Critic

    I love film and I love to write so I thought, why not combine the two? I currently review every new movie I see in theaters, on VOD, and or Streaming.

    Please enjoy, share and leave a comment if you like.


    For Your Consideration:
    akajeannette

    CherryPicks
    CRP Writes
    Cup Of Soul Show
     Filmotomy
    Film Posers
    In Their Own League
    Insert Montage
     InSession Film 
    Latinx Lens
    Mashley at the Movies
    Mike, Mike, and Oscar
    The Movie Oracle
    Next Best Picture
    Reos Positive POV
    Ripe Banana
    Shaurya Chawla
    ShuffleOnline
    The SoBros Network
    Strange Harbors
    Turbulent Cinema 
    Untitled Cinema Gals Project

    Movie Reviews

    All

    RSS Feed

    Archives

    February 2023
    January 2023
    October 2022
    September 2022
    August 2022
    July 2022
    June 2022
    May 2022
    April 2022
    March 2022
    February 2022
    January 2022
    December 2021
    November 2021
    October 2021
    September 2021
    August 2021
    July 2021
    June 2021
    May 2021
    April 2021
    March 2021
    February 2021
    January 2021
    December 2020
    November 2020
    October 2020
    September 2020
    July 2020
    June 2020
    May 2020
    April 2020
    March 2020
    February 2020
    January 2020
    December 2019
    November 2019
    October 2019
    September 2019
    August 2019
    July 2019
    June 2019
    May 2019
    March 2019
    February 2019
    January 2019
    December 2018
    November 2018
    October 2018
    September 2018
    August 2018
    July 2018
    June 2018
    May 2018
    April 2018
    March 2018
    February 2018
    January 2018
    December 2017
    November 2017
    October 2017
    September 2017
    August 2017
    July 2017
    June 2017
    May 2017
    April 2017
    March 2017
    February 2017
    January 2017
    December 2016
    November 2016
    October 2016
    September 2016
    August 2016
    July 2016
    June 2016
    May 2016
    April 2016
    March 2016
    February 2016
    January 2016
    December 2015
    November 2015
    October 2015
    September 2015
    August 2015
    July 2015
    June 2015
    May 2015
    April 2015
    March 2015
    February 2015
    January 2015
    December 2014
    November 2014
    October 2014
    September 2014
    August 2014
    July 2014
    June 2014
    May 2014
    April 2014
    March 2014
    February 2014
    January 2014
    December 2013
    November 2013

Powered by Create your own unique website with customizable templates.
  • Movie Reviews
  • Review Archive
  • Yearly Favorites
  • All-Time
  • Features
  • Contact