Go To: Portrait of a Lady on Fire

I defy you to hit pause at any time watching this movie and not land on a frame worthy of painting. I considered it a personal victory when, in June 2025, The New York Times released its 100 Best Movies of the 21st Century list, compiled from a poll conducted among Hollywood pros, and Portrait of a Lady on Fire (Portrait de la jeune fille en feu) landed at no. 38. This and Sinners are the evidence I need that there is hope for filmmaking. This love letter to art, to stolen glances, to female community is meticulously crafted and quietly bombastic, exploring how much art and memory are truly a comfort when one doesn’t have control over one’s own life.