Review of Jeanne Dielman, 23, quai du Commerce, 1080 Bruxelles (1976) by Alex S — 14 Sep 2009

There is a reason there has never been another film quite like this one and it is because anyone who tried to film a 200-minute account of someone's daily routines as they spiral into the cataclysmic point of no return got bored and went off to watch "Tiny Toons.

" No doubt can exist in anyone's mind that director Chantal Akerman and her star Delphine Seyrig are highly talented individuals but this does not work for me to the "holy lemonade-making kangaroos! Best movie evah!"-levels some viewers subscribe to.

We get three days in Jeanne's life, which includes cooking, cleaning, serving a daily gentleman caller and pocketing the money in a vase in the dining room, etc. Typical stuff. She also puts up with her moody teenage son who likes to talk about sex but you will do well to notice this since every scene he is in distracts you from what is happening due to his ability to suck the "fun" out of a room while sporting a goofy haircut.

The movie uses stationary shots for almost the entire run, sometimes hitting 10 minutes a take, which surprisingly helps us chart how things ever so slightly go wrong wrong for Jeanne on day three and really ramp up near the end.

This would be great except it can be a chore (ha!) to get through and the end completely negates everything before it. I understand we all aren't billionaire ninja tycoons saving school buses on a daily basis and any routine is going to wear thin after awhile out of repetition and boredom, so why film it if no one will be entertained or engaged? To make a Feminist point and demonstrate the reality of life.

And here is the biggest problem, and also where you should stop reading lest you want 200 minutes of observation spoiled: for such a realistic film, the murder is mundane beyond belief and not at all authentic (not that I have stabbed anyone to death with scissors, but you understand), therefore making everything else positive about this tainted.

Different, sure, but not a life-changing viewing experience.