Cinema
Jeanne Dielman, 23 quai du Commerce, 1080 Bruxelles
Chantal Akerman · 1975
Synopsis
Three days in the life of Jeanne Dielman, a widow who lives in Brussels with her son, Sylvain. The film shows her routine in real time: the cooking, the housework, the shopping, dinner with her son and, in the afternoon, the clients she receives for money, which she puts away in a tureen. After the second day, small disruptions creep into this meticulous order.
Context
The film was shot in five weeks in Brussels, with aid from the Belgian state and an almost entirely female crew: the cinematography is by Babette Mangolte, the editing by Patricia Canino. Delphine Seyrig plays the title role, Jan Decorte that of the son. Presented at the Directors' Fortnight at Cannes in 1975, it divided the critics and part of the audience left the theatre, but festival invitations poured in over the following days.
Who it is for
About three hours twenty minutes, in long, fixed shots. Real time is the very subject of the film and requires the viewer to accept its duration.
Prizes and reception
Ranked first among the greatest films of all time by Sight and Sound in 2022, the first film directed by a woman to hold that place.
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