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Portrait of a Lady on Fire (2019)

An exquisitely magnificent film by Celine Sciamma revovling around the story of women in the 18th Century Brittany, France.

Ultimate lesbian classic film–beating Carol and My Days of Mercy in my list. Portrait of a Lady on Fire is among the most empowering movies ever created.

The film didn’t fail to showcase genuine collaboration not only between the two lead women, but also among all women characters in the whole film. It exceeds its purpose to tell, not only a romance between two women but also of women as creators.

The film will definitely leave its audience in pain and in awe with the amount of love and power the characters provided in the whole film. Nothing less of a genius story told through images, paintings, hand gestures, eye-contact, and breathing. It is amazing how one film can contain multitudes of meanings and unending interpretations from women, for women and also men.

Definitely something no one should miss, regardless of gender, age and taste. Once again, women proved they can make better films than men, and best stories ever told to an audience.

“I wanted to challenge politically the kissing scene, which traditionally either has the surprise kiss scene thanks to a rain shower for instance, or the obvious kiss scene thanks to mustard on the corner of the lips, for instance, and it is generally carefully scripted as ‘They kiss.’ Or ‘They passionately kiss.’ And then it’s on the actors’ shoulders. It seems to rely a lot on them because it’s their bodies and fluids and interaction, but it shouldn’t be. It’s fake. It’s not about finding the magic. Actors should always be part of the elaboration of an idea, especially with intimate scenes. So I wanted to craft a scene that would embody the sexiness of consent. People who are questioning the idea of asking for consent in France, they do exist. They are brave fighters for the culture of French gallantry who say that asking for consent would not be sexy, it will break the mood. Some of the French critics thought the film lacked flesh, precisely because to them eroticism is about conflict. […] At some point I came up with the idea of them having to unveil their mouths like they would undress themselves. So I put a scarf, justified by a strong wind, pressed on their lips and thinking you would see their heavy breathing through the moving cloth.”

Mini plant babies

ink + watercolour