Opens: December 26
Genre: Romantic drama
Duration: 119 minutes

This has been a year of heated discussion about the future of cinema, with much angst over the increasing role of streaming TV at its apparent expense. Yet ironically, cast your eyes more widely than the increasingly narrow range of Hollywood production and it becomes obvious 2019 has been an unusually strong year, with major films from countries including South Korea, Italy, Germany, Argentina and Columbia.

Portrait of a Lady on Fire

Look to that traditional nurturer of serious cinema, France, and you find this exquisite example of art cinema in the grand tradition from Céline Sciamma (Girlhood; Tomboy) set in the 18th century. It won the best screenplay award in Cannes, although the cinematography, acting and direction are no less worthy of prestigious trophies.

Héloïse (Adèle Haenel) is a young woman living in a lonely mansion by the coast who is to be married off to a Milanese nobleman. Artist Marianne (Noémie Merlant) arrives by boat to paint her portrait – a second attempt, as the first, with a different artist, did not pan out well. But she is told she will need to be...