The 2019 French historical romance A Portrait of a Lady on Fire is available to stream free of charge on ITVX, where it continues to draw widespread acclaim from viewers and critics.
The film, written and directed by Céline Sciamma, stars Noémie Merlant and Adèle Haenel. It holds a 98% rating on Rotten Tomatoes, with fans calling it an emotional masterpiece that is "beyond perfect" and "an example of what cinema should be".
A painterly romance set in 18th-century France
The narrative follows Marianne, who is hired by a countess to pose as a walking companion while secretly painting the wedding portrait of her daughter. The marriage depends on the portrait, which is why Heloise, the unwilling bride-to-be, refuses to sit for it.
Set on an island off the Brittany coast in late 18th-century France, the film won the Cannes prize for screenwriting in 2019, according to the Express.
Viewers praise an emotional masterpiece
Rotten Tomatoes' critical consensus reads: "A singularly rich period piece, Portrait of a Lady on Fire finds stirring, thought-provoking drama within a powerfully acted romance."
One viewer posted: "I finally saw Portrait of a Lady on Fire, and I'm not ok. This movie wrecked me. It's one of the most beautiful films I have ever seen. Probably ever made. How do I move on from this?", adding: "What an absolute masterpiece."
Another remarked: "I loved everything about this movie the acting, the music and the real and raw scenes were just mesmerising, but THE ENDING BROKE ME."
A self-described 20-year-old accustomed to superhero films commented: "I was enthralled by these characters. The cinematography spoke just as much as the dialogue did. The actors spoke as much with their silence as with their words. I was crying at the end, and expect this movie to leave an impression. This is art, just like the paintings of the film itself. Cannot recommend enough."
One viewer noted: "When we saw this in theatres with my colleagues - mostly male - we came out speechless. At the end of the film, there was a girl crying in the same row [...] really crying from being moved."
A film critic stated: "Impeccable cinematography. Every frame is like a painting. Every line feels like the fragment of a poem. Filmmaking does not get any better than this."
Where to watch
A Portrait of a Lady on Fire is currently streaming free of charge on ITVX.
