NOTE: The below Blu-ray captures were taken directly from the Blu-ray disc.

ADDITION: Criterion Blu-ray (May 2020): Criterion have transferred Céline Sciamma's Portrait of a Lady on Fire to Blu-ray. It is cited as being from a "New 4K digital master". As well as the film being gorgeous, the dual-layered transfer, with high bitrate, does it the justice it deserves. Prescient scene-after-scene fill Portrait of a Lady on Fire. Colors - greens and maroons - are rich and deep. There may be a tinge of teal in the open sky. Claire Mathon's cinematography and the extensive art direction faithfully depicting the period give the film an immersive expression. The 1080P image quality provides a brilliant presentation.

NOTE: We have added 45 more large resolution Blu-ray captures (in lossless PNG format) for DVDBeaver Patrons HERE

On their Blu-ray, Criterion use a DTS-HD Master 5.1 surround track (24-bit) in the original French language. The separations generally surround the ocean waves - both in the beginning, on the row boat, and the occasional visits to the beach - whistling wind, and the crackling kitchen fireplace are also notable. The score is credited to Jean-Baptiste de Laubier (Girlhood) and Arthur Simonini (who is credited a musician on Girlhood) and the latter wrote the theme "Portrait de la jeune fille en feu". Some will recognize Vivaldi's Concerto No. 2 for violin in G minor, Op. 8, RV 315, L'Estate. It sounds wonderfully rich in the lossless. Criterion offer optional English subtitles on their Region 'A' Blu-ray.

The Criterion Blu-ray includes a new 1/2 hour conversation between director Céline Sciamma and film critic Dana Stevens about the inspiration behind and research and casting processes of Portrait of a Lady on Fire. It was recorded by the Criterion Collection in New York in February 2020. There are new interviews - edited together, running shy of 18-minutes, with actors Adèle Haenel and Noémie Merlant conducted by the Criterion Collection in Paris in January 2020. Interesting to see their experience in working with director/writer Céline Sciamma. I appreciated the 18-minute interview with cinematographer Claire Mathon from the 2019 Cannes Film Festival and hearing her description of what Sciamma wanted and what they achieved. Lastly, is a dozen-minute interview with oil painter Helene Delmaire who had never worked on a film before being approached by director Sciamma to create the paintings for Portrait of a Lady on Fire. In this interview, recorded in 2019, Delmaire discusses the painstaking process of making many different versions of the artworks featured in the movie. The package has liner notes with an essay by film critic Ela Bittencourt.

Céline Sciamma's Portrait of a Lady on Fire is gorgeous, deeply emotional cinema. It doesn't spell out details - but shows them in inference (and the character's eyes) via frequently impressive visuals - from close-ups to painterly landscapes. There are revelatory echoes of Bergman's Persona and a high degree of sexual tension and lust floating in every latter scene. It's a stunning films and one to treasure on Blu-ray. A fabulous film experiences - our highest recommendation!

Gary Tooze