Portrait of a Lady on Fire (2019)
Kernel Score: 90% · 2,873 ratings · Rated R
Genres: Drama, Romance
Released: 2019-09-06
Runtime: 121 minutes
Is Portrait of a Lady on Fire worth watching?
Must-watch. A quiet, beautifully painted romance between a portrait painter and her subject on an isolated island in Brittany. It is slow and restrained, but the final stretch is deeply moving and it stays with you.
Watch it if you
- like slow, intimate love stories
- appreciate beautiful, patient filmmaking
- are fine with subtitles
Skip it if you
- want fast pacing or lots of dialogue
- dislike subtitled films
Best for: Quiet date night
Fresh Kernels verdict, AI-assisted from our scores, audience reviews and the official rating.
Where to watch Portrait of a Lady on Fire
- Stream: HBO Max
- Free with ads: Kanopy
- Rent: Apple TV, Google Play, YouTube, Fandango At Home
- Buy: Apple TV, Google Play, YouTube, Fandango At Home
US availability, updated 2026-10-23.
Overview
On an isolated island in Brittany at the end of the eighteenth century, a female painter is obliged to paint a wedding portrait of a young woman.
Portrait of a Lady on Fire parents' guide: ages 15+
Parents need to know that Portrait of a Lady on Fire is an R-rated period romance including a same-sex relationship, sex scenes, and an abortion subplot.
- Sex, romance & nudity: Strong — R-rated for a lesbian relationship including sex scenes, per keywords and reviews.
- Drinking, drugs & smoking: None — No substance use indicated in signals.
Fresh Kernels AI-assessed from the official R rating, publicly documented content. A guide for families, not an official rating.
Movies like Portrait of a Lady on Fire
If you liked Portrait of a Lady on Fire, these are the movies we'd watch next.
- Carol (2015) — 86%: Another restrained, painfully beautiful love story
- Tomboy (2011) — 82%: Same director's tender story of identity
- Petite Maman (2021) — 77%: Same director's short, quiet and deeply felt film
- Maudie (2016) — 88%: Gentle, moving film about a painter
- Jane Eyre (2011) — 79%: Period romance full of longing
- At Eternity's Gate (2018) — 79%: Visually rich drama about a painter
Director
Cast
- Noémie Merlant as Marianne
- Adèle Haenel as Héloïse
- Luàna Bajrami as Sophie
- Valeria Golino as La Comtesse
- Christel Baras as La faiseuse d'ange
- Armande Boulanger as L'élève atelier
- Guy Delamarche as L'homme salon
- Clément Bouyssou as Le batelier
Portrait of a Lady on Fire FAQ
Is Portrait of a Lady on Fire worth watching?
Must-watch. A quiet, beautifully painted romance between a portrait painter and her subject on an isolated island in Brittany. It is slow and restrained, but the final stretch is deeply moving and it stays with you.
Where can I watch Portrait of a Lady on Fire?
In the US you can stream Portrait of a Lady on Fire on HBO Max, watch it free with ads on Kanopy and rent it from Apple TV, Google Play, YouTube and Fandango At Home.
Is Portrait of a Lady on Fire OK for kids?
Portrait of a Lady on Fire is rated R. Fresh Kernels suggests ages 15+. Parents need to know that Portrait of a Lady on Fire is an R-rated period romance including a same-sex relationship, sex scenes, and an abortion subplot.
What movies are like Portrait of a Lady on Fire?
If you liked Portrait of a Lady on Fire, try Carol, Tomboy, Petite Maman and Maudie.