Portrait of a Lady on Fire

I just watched Portrait of a Lady on Fire.

I can see why people like it. I do think the story is quite good. I can appreciate it on an artistic level.

But… I don’t know? I just didn’t care that much about any of the characters. They feel like strangers to me, i guess?

I can recognize a well crafted, emotional scene. I can see where the movie wants me to cry or to feel something. But it just doesn’t really connect with me.

I think some of it that just me not being able to relate to the main characters. I’m not lesbian and I’ve never been in a relationship with a woman. That doesn’t mean that I can’t possibly enjoy lesbian romance, but I do think that it’s definitely easier to get emotional watching something and to relate to the characters if they reflect a part of your lived experience. That’s partially of why I loved your name - As a trans girl in a long-distance relationship, that movie hits just about as close to home as anything possibIy could for me. I think part of it is also just the way the movie tells it’s story. I like the sort of dramatic, almost kitschy romance of the likes of your name. I like that almost larger than life storytelling. Those big emotional moments and dramatic stakes. In comparison the very grounded and down to earth nature of Portrait of a Lady on Fire doesn’t appeal to me as much. It almost feels muted. I can recognize that it’s a great movie, i think technically and narratively it’s quite well done, but it’s just not my cup of tea, i think.