Portrait of a Lady on Fire was just simply intoxicating. Please go see it if it is playing in a theater near you.

Opinions are opinions, but I do echo other sentiments in that France made a mistake in submitting Les Miserables to be their best foreign language Oscar pic rather than Portrait of a Lady on Fire. (For those saying this movie was snubbed, it wasn't because France submitted Les Mis rather than this for their best foreign language pic) As a connoisseur of French Cinema, it was not only the best French Film in a while but one of the best movies I've seen recently.

At the very least this movie deserved a nomination for best cinematography. The lighting of this movie in conjunction with the colors of the costumes, the environments, the framing, and the natural look of the actresses was nothing short of masterful. And while this movie moved slowly, I absolutely adored the way in which in built the relationship of the two protagonists. From a cold distant relationship, until they each knew every facet of each other's personality and nature. Up until that ending, absolutely poetic in which it closed an affair that was rather brief with respect to the lives of both protagonists but everlasting in terms of the impact it left on both of them.

Easily one of the top 3 movies of 2019 for me. While Parasite may have had more audience appeal, being that rare movie that works as both an art-house film and a blockbuster, I do believe Portrait of a Lady on Fire deserves to be mentioned alongside it as a piece of pure cinema.

Edit When the movie ended I got up immediately because I had to catch my bus, but everyone else was motionless in their chairs. Which should tell you all you need to know.

Submitted February 18, 2020 at 09:11AM by boondocks5 https://ift.tt/2Hyf3x3