Synopsis
Chantal Akerman's minimalist masterpiece follows Jeanne Dielman, a widowed Brussels housewife who supports herself and her son through rigid domestic routines and secret prostitution. Over three days, the camera observes her cooking, cleaning, and daily rituals in real time, allowing tiny disruptions to accumulate into a profound portrait of female alienation. The film is widely regarded as a landmark feminist work and one of the greatest achievements in cinema history.
Did You Know?
- The film runs over 3 hours and 20 minutes long.
- Directed by Chantal Akerman at only 25 years old.
- Delphine Seyrig wore her own clothes for the role.
- Almost entirely shot from static, carefully composed camera angles.
- Voted greatest film ever made by Sight & Sound 2022.
Iconic Quotes
- I never liked Sundays.
- You have to keep busy.
- The potatoes are overcooked.
- I don't know what I'm going to do with my evenings now.
- He was the first man I ever... it didn't last long.
