Portrait of a Cat Lady on Fire (2023) Full Movie Summary & Plot Explained

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The film opens with a visual of a blank canvas, setting the stage for a story deeply rooted in art, emotion, and memory. A delicate hand, feminine and steady, begins to trace gentle, flowing lines on the surface with a thin piece of charcoal. The process of creating and erasing unfolds multiple times, reflecting a sense of frustration or searching for perfection. As the camera pans out, we are introduced to a group of art students in an elegant class, all focused intently on their models and sketches. Among them, we notice a young girl with doe eyes, her gaze attentive and serious, along with several others, all absorbed in their work, suggesting a shared passion for artistic expression.

Their model is their teacher, a woman who stands facing them, gracefully posing while guiding her students. During the lesson, the teacher notices a particular painting that has been brought into the room—an artwork propped against the wall, facing away from her. She asks whose it is, and when one girl admits to having brought it, the teacher reveals that she herself painted it. Her gaze lingers on the painting, and she stares at it tearfully, as if recalling a profound memory or emotion.

The painting depicts a nighttime landscape of a deserted beach, but the most striking element is a woman positioned far off in the distance, gazing directly at the viewer. The scene is dark, evoking a sense of calm and mystery, with flames encircling the woman’s legs, creating a stark contrast and hinting at an intense inner life or turmoil.

Cut to a vivid flashback: the teacher, Marianne, is on a small rowboat amid turbulent waters, the only woman among four rowers. She holds a flat wooden palette in front of her, battling the stormy sea. When the rough water causes her palette to slip into the water, without hesitation, Marianne leaps in to retrieve it, demonstrating her fearless dedication. Afterward, she sits shivering under blankets, back on the boat, clutching her palette.

Later, Marianne arrives at a beautiful house with a breathtaking view, early evening casting a golden hue over the scene. A young chambermaid named Sophie greets her with a candle, introducing herself and offering a glimpse into the household. Marianne introduces herself as Heloise’s new guest and is shown into her quarters, where Sophie lights a fire, and Marianne attends to her wet canvases, drying them by the fireplace with quiet determination.

Throughout her stay, Marianne explores the house and observes the new environment, noticing that her portraits by a previous artist, including one of Heloise herself, are turned away or facing a wall—an indication of underlying secrets or unspoken tensions. She eventually turns one portrait, revealing a side of Heloise, and notices the portrait of her, rendered without a face, which shocks her deeply. Sophie then offers her a green dress from the portrait, hinting at the layered connections between art, identity, and perception.

The next day, Marianne finds herself in the company of La Comtesse, Heloise’s mother, viewing a large portrait of La Comtesse painted by Marianne’s father, which hangs proudly in a parlor. La Comtesse commissions Marianne to paint a portrait of her daughter, Heloise, but there’s a twist—Heloise refuses to sit for the portrait directly. La Comtesse instructs that Marianne must secretly observe Heloise during her walks, capturing her essence without her awareness. Marianne meticulously prepares her studio space, hanging curtains and rearranging furniture to create a private, intimate environment.

During their first walk, Heloise, arms crossed and her back turned, rushes toward a cliff edge, ignoring Marianne’s presence. She admits she has been dreaming of running for years, hinting at a deep-seated urgency or desire. The women then walk along the rugged coast, watching the relentless waves crash against the rocks, a scene dense with symbolism and unspoken feelings. Marianne’s intense gaze lingers on Heloise’s ear, attempting to memorize its unique shape, foreshadowing her obsession with capturing Heloise’s true self through portraiture.

Throughout their time together, Heloise and Marianne engage in a series of walks and conversations—talking about her sister’s tragic death, her arranged marriage to a man from Milan, and her recent life in a convent. Heloise’s feelings of dissatisfaction with her predetermined life become apparent, especially as she describes her sister’s suicide, the silent tragedy high on the cliffs, and her own conflicted desires. Marianne listens silently, absorbing every detail, her sketches of Heloise’s features becoming more refined and intimate.

Meanwhile, Marianne struggles with her own feelings, confronting her past—a terminated pregnancy, and a longing for love that she quietly admits to La Comtesse. Their conversations are rich with poetic metaphors, as they discuss stories like that of Eurydice and Orpheus, reflecting on themes of memory, obsession, and the choices we make between reality and the image we hold of it.

Back in the house, Marianne’s focus intensifies as she takes on the daunting task of capturing Heloise’s portrait. She experiments with different hues of green in her painting, trying to portray her model’s complex personality. Heloise, meanwhile, reveals her unfamiliarity with music, and Marianne astonishes her by playing a lively tune on an old harpsichord, describing Milan as a city vibrant with sound and life, contrasting her current, restrained existence.

The developing intimacy between Marianne and Heloise is palpable. Marianne’s portrait begins to reflect her deeper understanding, capturing fleeting expressions and subtle mannerisms.Yet tension arises when Marianne notices Heloise wearing a scarf around her neck, which she requests to loosen while she paints. Their relationship deepens as they share quiet moments—reading stories, sketching, and exploring their mutual vulnerabilities.

Heloise confides her dissatisfaction with her portrait, criticizing its lack of life and authenticity. Marianne, equally frustrated, scrapes the paint, ruining a previous portrait that was only a headless fragment by flicking it into the fireplace. Their emotional connection intensifies during walks and shared moments by the sea, where both women admit to their fears, desires, and past wounds.

Situations grow more intimate and complicated: Marianne secretly sketches Heloise at night, stealing moments for herself. Heloise, overwhelmed by her feelings, kisses Marianne in a quiet alcove, and their relationship blossoms in stolen embraces. They discuss love’s truth and illusions, referencing the ancient myth of Eurydice once again, understanding that memory and longing often supersede reality.

As the story progresses, Heloise’s marriage prospects, her sister’s death, and her internal struggles come to a head, leading to emotional confrontations and heartbreaks. Marianne, unable to ignore her feelings, finds herself torn between her artistic longing and her passionate love for Heloise. Their union culminates in a tender, yet bittersweet, scene of shared intimacy beneath the darkened sky, where Heloise’s dress catches fire from the bonfire nearby—symbolizing the danger and passion that surrounds them.

The following days are filled with poignant moments of farewell and regret. Heloise prepares to leave, and Marianne, realizing she must let go, faces the painful choice to watch her depart, her heart heavy with unspoken love. Marianne’s final act is to complete a portrait of Heloise, capturing her essence as her last gift, with Heloise acknowledging its depth and truth.

In the present, Marianne now stands at an exhibition, surrounded by her acclaimed works, including a rendition of Eurydice—a painting she secretly credits to her father’s name. Her gaze falls upon a portrait of Heloise, more mature now, holding her daughter, with a knowing smirk that hints at the stories left behind. As she observes her muse in a different time, Marianne quietly reflects on the last encounter—Heloise’s presence on a distant balcony, immersed in music and emotion, embodying the enduring power of art, memory, and love.

The film closes with Marianne’s voiceover, echoing the story of Eurydice: