Stunning Portrait one of year’s best
Portrait of a Lady on Fire (M, 121 mins)
Directed by Celine Sciamma Reviewed by Graeme Tuckett ★★★★★
In the 18th century, if a family of immodest wealth had a daughter who was approaching marriageable age – and if that daughter was of sufficiently pulchritudinous visage that it was judged to be worth a flutter – a portrait painter would be engaged to create a flattering image of said daughter.
This portrait could then be couriered around the even-moremoneyed houses of Europe in the hopes that some cashed-up young duke or similar would be so overcome by, err, appreciation, he would immediately drop everything and ride his steed across the lands for the chance to drop to one knee and make a bride of the blushing subject.
It wasn’t the most democratic or ergonomic process. But it did at least have a certain romance about it that, say, uploading a selfie to social media might never really approach.
Portrait of a Lady on Fire is set in that world. Artist Marianne has been engaged to paint Heloise, the daughter of an aristocratic family living on the wild and beautiful western French coast. The portrait is destined for a Count in Milan, but Heloise is none too pleased at her appearance being appraised by a complete stranger who she might then be expected to marry. A previous portraitist has been dispatched already.
Marianne is asked to pretend to be simply a companion for Heloise and to then paint her from memory in the evenings.
But the two women fall inextricably and ineluctably in love and la merde frappe le fan, rapidement.
Portrait of a Lady on Fire is the fourth feature from Celine Sciamma. Her Tomboy was probably my favourite film of the 2011 NZ International Film Festival and Portrait did sell-out business at this year’s event. I’m not surprised.
This is a formal, beautiful, disciplined and mature film from a writer/director who seemingly can’t put a foot wrong.
While the script is interrogating and upending, not just of the customs and idiocies of the
18th century, but also those of today, Sciamma never jars or slips into anachronism.
Portrait of a Lady on Fire isa love story, a treatise and an elegant manifesto. As a film – and as a soundtrack – it is a thing of beauty.
And, as a piece of writing and performance, you won’t see, or hear, much better this year.