In 18th Century France Marianne is hired to paint a portrait of Heloise before Heloise is to be married off to a rich Milanese man. At first it’s difficult and the woman don’t connect, but gradually they begin to become friends and then lovers. The romance comes to its inevitable end, the portrait is finished and Heloise is going to be married.
If the movie sounds boring, it’s because it’s kind of boring. It’s doesn’t really do anything new or that interesting in examing a doomed love affair, even a lesbian one. It frankness for female sexuality and for nonsexual nudity is really the only novel thing about it. But that doesn’t elevate the movie to something great.