Love knows no boundaries nor gender, even in history, as “Portrait Of A Lady On Fire” showcases the blossoming love between a French female artist and her subject. Directed and written by Céline Sciamma, whose previous work includes “Tomboy” and “Girlhood,” the film won two awards at the Cannes Film Festival. The awards were the Queer Palm and Best Screenplay Awards. The Queer Palm is notable as ‘Portrait Of A Lady On Fire’ is the first film with a female director to win it.
As mentioned, the film features two women who fall in love with each other, but the model, Héloïse (played by Adèle Haenel), is to marry a man. Speaking to Cineuropa, Sciamma spoke of the portrayal of the forbidden love and today’s views on the subject. Saying, “I wanted to give them back their hearts, souls and bodies. This movie is not about wondering if such a relationship would be possible – it’s not, and they know it.” She continued, “We all know what society thinks – I don’t need to repeat it.”
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Sciamma also spoke of the casting choices of both Haenel and Noémie Merlant, who plays artist Marianne. She said, “I was obsessed with this question of equality in love and friendship, which I think is possible in queerness and less so in straightness.” She went on to say, “With Noémie and Adèle, they are both the same height and the same age, but they’re intense in their very own way. Noémie is a believer and Adèle is an atheist – I am not talking about religion here, but their approach to acting.”
The film is a serious Oscar’s contender this year, with it receiving a Metacritic score of 92%, this is one film that could challenge for the top prizes at the 92nd Academy Awards.
READ MORE: Céline Sciamma’s ‘Portrait Of A Lady On Fire’ Is A Searing Love Story [Cannes Review]
Here is the synopsis:
In 18th century France a young painter, Marianne, is commissioned to do the wedding portrait of Héloïse without her knowing. Therefore, Marianne must observe her model by day to paint her portrait at night. Day by day, the two women become closer as they share Héloïse’s last moments of freedom before the impending wedding.
The film is in French, and will be in theaters December 6th. Watch the new trailer below.