Review of Jeanne Dielman, 23, quai du Commerce, 1080 Bruxelles (1976) by Dave J — 07 Jul 2014

Tuesday, July 8, 2014.

(1975) Jeanne Dielman.

(In French with English subtitles).

SOCIAL COMMENTARY DRAMA.

Not a film for the masses since it's potentially plot less, written and directed by Chantal Akerman who was obviously inspired by Michelangelo Antonioni's long focus on the main character doing general housework whether it's cooking or cleaning, and Yasujirô Ozu because of continued footages of unmoved camera takes, you know when only the characters are moving while the movie camera doesn't. Picture this, it's like you're watching someone cooking on a cooking program without explaining or telling you any of the ingredients, or peeping and then staring through someone's window, seeing absolutely nothing unusual. If you're one of those people who don't want to be subjected to long hours of a woman doing simple house work, this film won't be for you. For me personally, I can fairly say that I wasn't psychologically bored since I do have a normal relationship with my mother who (aside from the lead character allowing strange men into her bedroom) does exactly what mothers usually does in real life, in which she cooks both for herself as well as her son, she goes shopping and cleans. This film documents her very 'routine' life in a matter of three days just basically doing the same things over and over, and she's obviously not happy about it but doesn't know how to express it. The only thing that is irregular is the way she gets her income, as viewers had already figured out during the final 10 minutes from this 3 hour movie is that she prostitutes herself.

Movie was made during the time when general 'house work' was deemed as part of a thing woman would have to do anyway that shouldn't be acknowledged nor should they be unappreciated. In other words, they don't get paid to do that unless they were to work as a maid. Unlike other movies with single parents, or in this case single mothers, they're often portrayed as characters given other options to have choices whether or not to get a job, cook or clean whatever and whenever they want- it's like that if the characters are laid back. And the character, Jeanne Dielman played by Delphine Seyrig is probably one of the most relatable characters I had ever witnessed(aside from how she gets her money) since viewers wouldn't notice the amount of work mothers have to do in real life and that it shouldn't have to be put in the form of a movie in order for people to notice that. The first time I saw this film, I was very young, but after seeing it again, I have to say it's one of the best depictions of female repression.

3 out of 4 stars.