Review of Portrait of a Lady on Fire (2019) by Manicure — 29 Dec 2020

“Portrait of a Lady on Fire” is an austere but elegantly staged period drama with gorgeous cinematography and compelling performances. Sure it’s an explicit feminist manifesto and yet one more film on the LGBTQ struggle, but for once we have something of artistic relevance that does not need to rely on the sympathy-inducing factors of its subject matter. It’s a poetically beautiful piece about forbidden love regardless of gender and sexuality.

The script is a little stereotyped and lacking in character complexity, but I appreciated its sobriety nevertheless. It’s a film full of intellectual showing off and arthouse aspirations, but never to the point it talks down to its audience or becomes obnoxious.