"The Gold Hugo for Best Film goes to Portrait of a Lady on Fire by Céline Sciamma. The film ... More

"The Gold Hugo for Best Film goes to Portrait of a Lady on Fire by Céline Sciamma. The film portrays not only the exuberance of falling in love and the all-consuming nature that is love, but also the beauty of women's solidarity and the attempt to fit in a world that rarely seems to be made for them. The strength of the filmmaking combined with amazing acting, photography, and music set the jury on fire."

Portrait of a Lady on Fire is a beautiful and elegant period film that unfolds from its first frame... More

Portrait of a Lady on Fire is a beautiful and elegant period film that unfolds from its first frame in a warm yet suffocatingly cold fashion. Subtle yet powerful performances surround the lead who is a force to be reckoned with. We are all trapped in her gaze as each scene slowly builds towards the ultimate and inevitable climax that yearns towards a feminism yet to come.

"This is a work, which excels in its audio-visual storytelling. Channelled through a strong female ... More

"This is a work, which excels in its audio-visual storytelling. Channelled through a strong female voice, it is at once narratively compelling and aesthetically striking. The film transports us to an age even more firmly in the grip of men than our own, to tell the tale of a handful of women. We follow their fascinating and deeply moving story, as they find intimacy and succour in one another, and a way to live out their dreams of freedom and fulfilment, to satisfy the longing to be a complete human being. In keeping with the best of period drama, our winner speaks to timeless human themes in a rich and stylistically self-assured visual register. With elegance, sophistication and courage, the film explores how love and vitality can - at least momentarily - throw off the shackles of an oppressive social order. Exquisite acting performances and cinematography, combined with a soupcon of mythological symbolism, add up to a work of serious artistic merit."