QR Film Review: Portrait of a Lady on Fire

“Do all lovers feel they’re inventing something?”

True to its title, Portrait of a Lady on Fire burns slowly. It begins like a firework show, or a grand symphony, or a bonfire about to catch flame, a tantalising build-up of subtle glances and disguised flirtations as a portrait painter and her brooding subject begin to fall in love. Director Celine Sciamma captures the quiet subtleties of romance with heart-wrenching intricacy, achieving a shattering emotional effect even with minimal set design and a barely existent score. Many of the most romantic scenes are soundtracked only by a crackling fire or roaring waves, leaving the electrifying chemistry between the two lead actresses to speak for itself, and undoubtedly move many in the audience to tears from just a single touch of hands.

This is also a film that will make you forget to breathe. 

Portrait of A Lady on Fire explodes in its second half, a fireball of passion and intensity carried by astounding performances, breathtaking visuals, and a Cannes award-winning screenplay. It feels like watching a piece of art in motion, strikingly unique and deeply moving despite the age-old story of forbidden love. It feels impossible not to care about the characters as they fall for each other in a society dedicated to driving women apart. The film is an astounding tribute to love in its entirety, capturing romance in both its highest drama and its softest light. Like a masterwork in a museum, it demands your every attention, and will move you unexpectedly to tears.