Audiences are calling Portrait of a Lady on Fire one of the most beautiful films ever made, with the 2019 French period drama earning near-universal acclaim and a 98% rating on Rotten Tomatoes. The film, written and directed by Céline Sciamma, is now available to stream for free on ITVX.
The movie follows Marianne, a painter commissioned by a countess to secretly paint the wedding portrait of her daughter, Héloïse. Because the marriage depends on the portrait, Héloïse, an unwilling bride-to-be, refuses to pose, so Marianne poses as her walking companion instead.
A Painterly Period Drama Set in 18th-Century France
Set on an island off the coast of Brittany in late 18th-century France, the film has been compared to a masterpiece. It secured the Cannes prize for screenwriting in 2019. The film stars Noémie Merlant and Adèle Haenel.
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."
Viewers Left Speechless and in Tears
The film has proved to be an emotional experience for countless viewers. One person shared: "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? What an absolute masterpiece."
Another said: "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 10/10 Rating From a Self-Described Superhero Movie Fan
A self-described 20-year-old "used to superhero movies" gave the film a 10/10 star rating. They said: "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."
Another fan shared their experience watching it in person: "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." They added: "With my colleagues, we walked out, and none of us spoke or said anything for at least 5-10 minutes, as we all obviously were affected by the nostalgic beauty that the picture captures."
A film critic wrote: "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."
The period drama is available to stream for free on ITVX.
