Movies - TV
Céline Sciamma Used One Key Scene As The 'Compass' For Portrait Of A Lady On Fire
By DEBOPRIYAA DUTTA
In Céline Sciamma's "Portrait of a Lady on Fire," Marianne is hired to secretly paint Héloïse for a wedding portrait, and over the course of the film, passion blossoms between the two. In an interview with The Daily Beast, Sciamma discussed the scene that served as a north star for the film.
Sciamma talked about the deliberate kernel of rebellion embedded into Héloïse's character, which is expressed during her interactions with Marianne. The turning point in their relationship is the night of the bonfire, where Héloïse’s dress suddenly catches fire, as the scene is an admittance of her love for Marianne.
The filmmaker says the image of a girl on fire was "a compass for the film" that is "literal, not psychological," as her motto was to be "simple, straightforward, and bold." The image of Héloïse on fire is branded in Marianne's memory, allowing her to paint her, and the portrait is a lifelong reminder of their mutual desire.