Portrait of a Lady on Fire

France, 1760. Promised to an Italian suitor, nobly born Héloïse is an unconventional young woman who refuses to pose for the obligatory wedding portrait, an act of rebellion against her arranged marriage. Her mother furtively hires a female artist, Marianne, to act as a lady’s companion to Heloise so she can secretly paint her portrait. The two women experience, ahem, a fierce attraction. Won Best Screenplay, Cannes Film Festival, and also played Telluride and Toronto.

Directed and written by Céline Sciamma; 2019; Courtesy of Neon; Drama, Romance; France; In French with English subtitles; Cast: Noémie Meerlant, Adele Haenel, Luana Barjrami, Valeria Golino. Runtime: 119 min.