I loved The Portrait of the Lady on Fire. I think the movie was well thought out and the different storylines with in the plot mesh with each other so well. The biggest thing I took away from the film is that it meant to offer a feminist and more feminine point of view, which was extremely noticeable and quite refreshing since I feel that most mainstream films do not acknowledge any other audiences other than men-centered ones often. Everything in the film worked to show this.

First, when Marianne’s artist supplies fell into the water, there was a pausing moment where all the men just looked at her, and she got the supplies herself. There was no knight and shining armor to get it for her. Also, she entered this island where there appears to be inhabited only by women. It appears so lonely, and I think it was for Héloïse, at least until Marianne showed. The movie then proceeds to slowly show the growing bonds between the two as Marianne tries to paint Héloïse without her knowing.

The theme does not stop at those two either. Their maid, Sophie, needs to have an abortion. When thought about traditionally, maids do not have friendships with their employers, so having your employer help you successfully have an abortion is completely off the table as well. I think the relationship is there despite their more formal relationship of employer and employee to show that women should stick together, help, and support in any way possible regardless of any other factors. I think the abortion itself serves as a way to rebel against the patriarchy. If you think about it deeper, abortions have always been a controversial and sensitive subject for women. The world tries to make the decisions regarding womens’ bodies for them, so there is no control over something that has complete control over women because pregnancy and childbirth take such a physical toll (even threatening death). This is a similar parallel to Héloïse’s arranged marriage. Choosing to marry someone should be just that: a choice, and hers is being stripped from her, leaving her with no control over that aspect of her life that will affect her for the rest of her life.

With so much that happens in most societies, I think it is extremely easy to forget that the ability to choose is often always treated as a luxury, even when it should be a right. Unfortunately, everyone still does not have it. I think this topic is also addressed in Meshes of the Afternoon by Maya Deren. She was in an abusive relationship. The audience does not know the details of the relationship, but it ends in Maya killing herself to end it. It’s the same thing Héloïse’s sister did to escape her arranged marriage. Choices and the ability to choose mean everything when you (appear) not to have it. Even when those two appeared to not have a choice, they made the last one they would ever make.