Film
Portrait of a Lady on Fire (15)
Dir. Céline Sciamma, France, 2019, subtitled, 121 mins. Cast. Noémie Merlant, Adèle Haenel, Luàna Bajrami.
One of the best films to come out of Cannes last year (where it won Best Screenplay and the Queer Palm, as well as countless rave reviews); this is an exquisite tale of female desire, hidden love, art, and the gaze. Set in 18th century Brittany, it follows Marianne an artist commissioned to paint an engagement portrait of Héloïse - a piece of art destined for her future husband (who she has never met). Héloïse has already refused to sit for another artist so Marianne must pose as a walking companion to Héloïse by day, and capture her likeness on canvas from memory at night. Intimacy and attraction swiftly develop between the two women. A heart-breaking period piece told with a distinctly modern feminist energy, Sciamma’s sumptuous masterpiece is one of the most emotional films of this or any other year. Beautifully crafted, it’s a stunning look at what we can create, how we can live, and who we can love.
We are also hosting a Reclaim the Frame screening of Portrait of a Lady on Fire on Tuesday 31st March, featuring a portrait sketching workshop. Click here for more information.
One of the best films to come out of Cannes last year (where it won Best Screenplay and the Queer Palm, as well as countless rave reviews); this is an exquisite tale of female desire, hidden love, art, and the gaze. Set in 18th century Brittany, it follows Marianne an artist commissioned to paint an engagement portrait of Héloïse - a piece of art destined for her future husband (who she has never met). Héloïse has already refused to sit for another artist so Marianne must pose as a walking companion to Héloïse by day, and capture her likeness on canvas from memory at night. Intimacy and attraction swiftly develop between the two women. A heart-breaking period piece told with a distinctly modern feminist energy, Sciamma’s sumptuous masterpiece is one of the most emotional films of this or any other year. Beautifully crafted, it’s a stunning look at what we can create, how we can live, and who we can love.
We are also hosting a Reclaim the Frame screening of Portrait of a Lady on Fire on Tuesday 31st March, featuring a portrait sketching workshop. Click here for more information.