Paul Ramgo

Superlatives would sully any attempt at describing the movie, Portrait of a Lady on Fire. But how should one describe this rare event in our lives? Perhaps, it is sufficient to state that the last minute of the movie, set to Vivaldi's Summer, is unlike anything any heroine in cinema has ever portrayed. (Ah! Just violated the superlative rule.) In the "Summer" the composer contrast's a beautiful summer day with the onset of a nasty thunderstorm. Without uttering a word, with just her lips, eyes and facial muscles, Adele Haenel transmutes the music to tell us Heloise's story. That is worthy of many Oscars. Alas, Haenel wasn't even nominated. I'm getting ready to watch it again...and again. The last time a film this memorable was made was in 1993---The Remains of the Day.