Portrait of a Lady on Fire Review
Portrait of a Lady on Fire tells a simple story. A woman named Marianne (Noémie Merlant) is commissioned to paint another woman named Héloïse (Adèle Haenel) who has to be married off to a man. She doesn't want to be painted and she doesn't want to marry, so Marianne has to paint her in secret and memorize her features. It's a movie that displays its beauty confidently in its unforgettable visuals and was shot with 8K cameras to capture every possible pigment of colour in every brush stroke, blade of grass, ocean wave, and flicker of flame. Everything is elevated by its calming soundscapes, and layered performances from its two main leads. For a slowly paced drama, its two hours pass at a swift pace. It's a masterpiece and every shot is intoxicating and feels like it has a life of its own. It's a must see for the romantics out there and those looking for a down to earth, quiet, lesbian story featuring what has already become one of cinema's most beloved love stories.