Review: Portrait of a Lady on Fire

Marianne is a very talented, young painter. She is brought to the island to paint a portrait of another young woman, Heloise. Normally, it'd be an easy task for someone of Marianne's calibre, but it is not. What makes it difficult is how Heloise is. The portrait is supposed to be sent to her future husband in Milan, who was found and approved by her mother. In no mood to get married to an unknown person and still grieving the loss of her sister, Heloise is hell bent on not posing for a portrait and Marianne is let known that the previous painter, hired before her has eventually succumbed to Heloise's adamancy. However, Heloise's mother has devised a plan for the poor Marianne, to help her in portraying her daughter. The plan is to keep the real reason of Marianne's existence in the island away from Heloise and all that she would be informed is that Marianne is brought in as her new companion. Marianne is to observe Heloise during their time spent together and should paint her from the memory at nights.

Marianne, who herself is a fearless, creative and tenacious young woman observes that Heloise is a flamboyant woman, difficult to capture. Her real emotions hidden inside as a mystery which Marianne finds unable to bring to the portrait. After getting close to Heloise and upon completion of the portrait, Marianne let Heloise know the real objective of her visit and even shows what she had completed. To much of Marianne's surprise and a rub on her creative ego, Heloise doesn't react much other than just asking "Is that how you see me?" in a scornful tone. Filled with guilty as well as a challenge raised to her, Marianne decides to portray Heloise once again, but this time with her permission.

Portrait of a Lady on Fire, is a movie which explores the "unusual" relationship budding between the two young women. One, who has travelled around, seen and felt things which made her strong and bold and other, fierce yet fragile, who yearns to go out in the world, to feel freedom and love, and most of all, getting known by someone else for real. In a way, the movie is a mixture of "Blue is the warmest color" and "Carol", set up in a late eighteenth century France. Yet, this movie stands out in the portrayal of the sensual relationship between the two women just like some fine brush strokes does on a painting. It is alluring to watch their strangeness goes on to friendship and growing to intimacy. Director, Celine Sciamma and her skilled Cinematographer, Claire Mathon has portrayed the luscious bond with so much finesse and grace.

Noemie Merlant and Adele Haenel portrays the characters of Marianne and Heloise respectively. Both women plays their characters with so much confidence and exuberance that not in any moment, we would feel them out of sync with their distinctive characters. Haenel, has once again showed the world of her renowned acting talent. There are times, you would actually feel the fire in her eyes which her character carries within herself. With a lingering perspective on Heloise with different emotions passing her by, while presto of summer from Vivaldi in the background is one of the most moving and ferocious ending seen in a movie for a long time.

Certainly, one of the very best and the most artistic movie of the year, "Portrait of a Lady on Fire" is a gem, glowing like a fireball and rolling right into our hearts.