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PORTRAIT OF A LADY ON FIRE (15)

IN MID-18TH century Brittany, Heloise (Adele Haenel) leaves behind the solitude and safety of her convent. She is powerless to prevent an arranged marriage – sight unseen – to an Italian nobleman orchestrated by her mother, La Comtesse (Valeria Golino).

The controlling matriarch plans to present the groom-to-be with a portrait of his prize but Heloise steadfastly refuses to pose.

Consequently, La Comtesse secretly hires painter Marianne (Noemie Merlant, pictured with Haenel) to produce a flattering portrait. Marianne is introduced as a walking companion for Heloise and must closely observe the bride-to-be during their clifftop strolls before painting at night from memory.

As the two women spend more time together under false pretences, sparks of attraction and desire unexpectedly crackle between them, threatening to burn their carefully ordered worlds to the ground.

Portrait of a Lady on Fire is a sumptuous period drama from celebrated French film-maker Celine Sciamma, which sets our hearts ablaze with ravishing imagery that loses none of its impact on the small screen.

The writer-director reunites with Haenel, leading lady of her acclaimed debut feature Water Lilies, and lightning strikes twice as they stoke forbidden desires into a raging inferno of erotically charged sex scenes with Merlant’s painter.

Cinematographer Claire Mathon contrasts violent, crashing waves of the film’s remote island setting with emotions churning beneath the actors’ expressive faces.

We are rendered breathless alongside Heloise and Marianne as they grapple with words to adequately express the longing in their scorched hearts. Available to download/stream and on DVD from June 8.