“Portrait of a Lady on Fire” doesn’t hit U.S. theaters until December 6, but Céline Sciamma has been receiving prizes and acclaim for the period romance since its world premiere at Cannes in May. The writer and director has just been named as this year’s recipient of the Stockholm International Film Festival’s Stockholm Visionary Award, a lifetime achievement honor. The Hollywood Reporter confirmed the news.
“Céline Sciamma has, with her films, stretched the understanding of being human today,” the festival said in statement. “Through her ability of creating engaging character portraits of her generation and to tell stories that rarely are told, she has taken a worldwide audience by storm. With elegant aesthetics and sensuality, she has expanded our cinematic horizon. She is a visionary voice that patches up holes in film history, and which, with her innovative gaze, challenges the understanding of seeing and seen.”
France voted against “Portrait of a Lady on Fire” as its submission for the 2020 Academy Awards despite the film’s rapturous reviews. The lesbian love story, which currently boasts a 97 percent “Fresh” rating on Rotten Tomatoes, was among the finalists to be considered. The last-woman directed film France entered into the Oscar race was Deniz Gamze Ergüven’s “Mustang,” a coming-of-age drama that went on to receive a nomination.
Set in 1760 France, “Portrait of a Lady on Fire” sees an artist hired to do an unconventional job — her subject, a reluctant bride to be, can’t know she’s working on her portrait. Héloïse (Adèle Haenel) has refused to sit for other artists. She’s under the impression that Marianne (Noémie Merlant) is a companion to go on walks with. In reality, Marianne is studying Héloïse, and sneakily working on a painting of her that will be sent to a potential suitor in Milan.
“Portrait of a Lady on Fire” won Best Screenplay at Cannes and made history as the first woman-directed film to take home the Queer Palm. Its other honors include the People’s Choice Award for Best Narrative Feature at the Norwegian International Film Festival
“Girlhood” and “Tomboy” are among Sciamma’s other credits. She’ll accept her award at the Stockholm International Film Festival on November 9.
