Brittany, the 1770s. Marianna (Noémie Merlant) is a jobbing artist commissioned to paint the wedding portrait of Héloïse (Adèle Haenel), the daughter of a French countess. Marianna’s challenge is that Héloïse refuses to pose, objecting to the arranged marriage she is being forced into. As Marianna observes the defiant Héloïse while painting her in private, she becomes increasingly captivated by her subject. Every frame of Céline Sciamma’s achingly beautiful 18th-century love story is immaculate, the lead performances are beguiling and it is a film that confirms Sciamma (Water Lillies, Girlhood) as a major force in world cinema. MH

In partnership with the Embassy of France in Ireland.

Second Chance: Sun, 17th Nov 2019