This movie is a French period piece and it tells the simple tale of a female artist commissioned to paint the future wife of a Duke. The artist travels to the woman's seaside place of residence and the movie covers the period of the painting of the canvas and the initially touchy, but ultimately loving, relationship that develops between these two young women.
The setting is intimate, the cast is small, and the plot is almost wafer-thin. The pace is almost painfully sedate, but one gradually becomes accustomed to it, and to appreciate the opportunity to soak in the imagery, and the detail (Rather like looking at a painting, I guess)
The cast is almost exclusively female, as is the director, and this is clearly a deliberate and dedicated woman's movie, in every sense. However, any man who actually likes women will have no problem being entertained and ultimately rewarded by giving this film a watch.
Naturally any kind of open love between two women of social status was never going to be a potential option in the 18th century, so how are these two going to reconcile the passion that emerges between them. This is the only plot device and jeopardy element. Not much to work with, but I felt that this was a statement by the producers to show that in the woman's realm deep feelings go a longer way than plot twists and high dudgeon.
The acting is controlled and meaningful, the interior settings are explored to the point that you almost fill in the smells yourself, and the sequences at the beach linger long enough that you begin bracing yourself against the coastal winds. The high-point of the film is when the community of women gather on a cliff to associate, drink a bit, and sing a particularly haunting mantra-like song.
My all time favourite film (La Belle Noiseuse - Long version) also attempts to capture an artist busy in the process of painting a picture. It is not an easy thing to do on film. Naturally I believe my favourite movie does, but does this film achieve that too? Well, to a point, although, for me, the creation of the picture here is more a metaphor for the falling in love, than about the artistic pursuit as of itself.
Did I enjoy watching this film? Yes, I did, but a week later I am struggling to recall more that a few vivid moments or to reconnect with it on an emotional level.
A worthy film certainly, an important woman's work for sure, but one to be more admired than ever relished.
Review of Portrait of a Lady on Fire
