Portrait of a Lady on Fire Analysis

Portrait of a Lady on Fire

Written & Directed by: Celine Sciamma

Cinematography by: Claire Mathon

Won the Best Screenplay at Cannes 2019 and Nominated for Palme d'Or.

The premise of this film is so interesting, it is set in the 18th century and it is about a forbidden affair between two women, an aristocrat and a painter commissioned to paint her portrait. This film is an example of how art house films need not be boring, this film has a lot of scope for art being explored in it. The premise of this film in itself is about a woman who wouldn't pose for painters because she doesn't want to get married and this painter is asked to talk to her and observe her everyday and paint her somehow. So the film is poetic in terms of the visuals, the landscapes, the costumes, the sound design but the film doesn't limit itself to being this. It is a heart breaking love story. The performances were brilliant by both the actors, Noemie Merlant and Adele Haenel. The paintings featured in the film were made by Helene Delmaire, which also deserve a lot of appreciation 

The cinematography of this film is the best I've seen in recent times. The imagery of both the characters is so strong, they use singles a lot of times or they have both of them in the frame at once, they hardly use OTS because then we feel like we are spying from behind. We are always in between them feeling the power of both the characters and feeling the intimacy. The conversations, the romantic scenes are shot and edited in a way that we feel the tension they feel towards each other. This film does a great job in making us empathize with the characters. This film never intends to titillate the audience with its romantic scenes unlike other films and I don't get such films where they have titillating scenes. What's the point? Tell me what kind of a love life they have, what kind of a sex life they have, but why do you try to get me aroused while they are making out or having sex? Maybe I'm yet to figure it out, but I feel strongly this way as of now. I'm eager to watch her remaining filmography.