Reviewing 3 Period Piece Movies: Portrait of a Lady on Fire, Far from the Madding Crowd, The Favourite

Technically, a period piece is just any film set in a past era. At this point in time, a movie set in the early 2000s could by definition be a period piece.

When I think of period piece movies though, I usually first think of films set at least a hundred or so years ago. More specifically, I personally think of movies set in Europe around the years 1700-1900.

The three movies I’ll review in this post fit that more precise definition of what I think of when someone mentions a period piece, as all three are set overseas in the 18th and 19th centuries.

Portrait of a Lady on Fire (2019)

Pyramide Films, 120 minutes

Set in 18th-century France, Portrait of a Lady on Fire follows a painter named Marianne who is commissioned to paint a portrait of a young woman living on a remote island. The conflict is that the young woman in question, named Héloïse, refuses to sit for the portrait as it will be sent to a nobleman she’ll be wed to against her will if he likes the painting. So, Marianne must act as though she’s been hired as Héloïse’s companion for walks and paint the portrait in secret.

I really like this setup for a movie and find it pretty compelling. The greatest strength of Portrait of a Lady on Fire though, is the film’s aesthetic. This is a visually beautiful film. We’re definitely in work of art as a film territory with this one.

It’s clear from early on that we’re supposed to see an attraction between the two women, one that viewers know will undoubtedly grow as the story continues. Unfortunately, this is where there’s a major issue with the film: The two leads, who are both fine actors taken separately, have little romantic chemistry with one another. For a love story to work, you need to feel like you’re following people actually falling in love and I just didn’t feel that at all here.

Portrait of a Lady on Fire is also a slower, methodically paced film, something some viewers might take issue with. Personally, I didn’t mind the pacing. Overall, while I still view this as a quality, visually stunning, film the lack of believability in the romance between the leads definitely took it down a notch for me.

Grade: 6.5/10

Far from the Madding Crowd (2015)

Fox Searchlight Pictures, 119 minutes 

Far from the Madding Crowd is based off of the similarly titled 1874 novel by David Nicholls. It’s set in the 1870s in Britain and tells the story of a woman named Bathsheba Everdene, who’s played in the film by Carey Mulligan.

While the movie tells the overall story about what’s happening to Bathsheba, primarily we’re concerned with which of three potential suitors she’ll end up with. We first meet a neighboring sheep farmer, then Bathsheba makes the acquaintance of a wealthy/older neighbor, and finally, a soldier.

As is sometimes the case with works based on older novels, a lot happens in our story – and what does occur sometimes feels fairly abrupt. As an example, a sudden inheritance early in the film catapults Bathsheba to farm ownership and greater wealth. Far from the Madding Crowd never really takes itself too seriously though, so such tropes are easier to excuse. 

The movie feels a bit silly at times, but it also feels self-aware – it’s only trying to be a fun, lighter period piece. So, while it’s far from great, you could do a lot worse than Far from the Madding Crowd if you’re just looking for a couple hours of pleasant escapism.

Grade: 7/10

The Favourite (2018)

Fox Searchlight Pictures, 120 minutes

When I originally watched The Favourite years ago, I remember being somewhat disappointed by it. I was a massive fan of its director, Yorgos Lanthimos’ films The Lobster and The Killing of a Sacred Deer (which had been released recently compared to The Favourite) and was a bit disappointed that The Favourite isn’t nearly as absurdist as those movies. Now, watching the movie with fresh eyes eight years after its initial release, I was able to really appreciate it.

The Favourite might not be as absurdist as something like The Lobster, but this is still pretty out there for a film, especially when compared to other period pieces. In fact, there really aren’t many satirical dark comedy art film period pieces out there at all. Lanthimos is somewhat reigned in compared to his other works, but the feel that this is a Lanthimos film is still definitely present.

Overall, The Favourite is an excellent movie. The costumes and set design are spot on. The cinematography is also fantastic – this is a great looking film visually.

The story though is what truly sets The Favourite apart. This movie just feels so different from what you typically get with a period piece, choosing to concentrate on the rivalry between a pair of cousins named Sarah and Abigail jostling for the approval of Queen Anne. The acting by the three leads is fantastic, with Olivia Coleman (who plays the queen) winning the Academy Award for Best Actress. 

If your interests overlap to include period pieces and black comedy as mine do, you’re sure to love The Favourite. It’s well worth a watch (or re-watch if you haven’t seen it recently).

Grade: 8.5/10