Film recommendation – Portrait of a Lady on Fire (Portrait de la jeune fille en feu)
Watch this stunning French lesbian period drama.
This ravishing story of female passion and desire set in 18th-century France is a beautiful masterpiece about love, creativity and the power of just looking. Or, as director Céline Sciamma says, it is about the ‘gaze’ (or is that the – female – gays?).
It is a sumptuous love story set in 18th-century France. Artist Marianne must secretly paint the portrait of countess’s daughter Héloïse in the hope it will find her a wealthy husband, although Héloïse doesn’t want to be married – or painted. Nevertheless, a burgeoning attraction between artist and subject develops. Exploring women’s roles in society within a historical context, Sciamma has crafted a poignant, exquisite portrait of female desire and solidarity.
Portrait of a Lady on Fir...