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I love the relationship between these two iconic filmmakers ā two wildly talented gals meeting in their 20s, discovering New York together in the 1970s, further developing + expanding their artistic voices, deeply supporting and nurturing one anotherās ideas, all while exposing each other to new forms of expression and experimentation. The magic that came out of their collaborations (Hotel Monterey, News from Home, Jeanne Dielman, 23, quai du Commerce, 1080 Bruxelles) as well as their individual work is amazing and highly worth a deep dive.
Mar 23, 2023
Related Recs
Iām admittedly not well versed in Akermanās work, though I did manage to duck into a Metrograph screening of āNews From Homeā sometime during the eight months I lived in NYC. I was really taken with this one, though, newly released in a 4K restoration as part of a retrospective Criterion Collection box set.
Aurore ClĆ©ment (who I primarily associate with the twenty minutes of Paris, Texas that I can usually make it through before falling asleep) gives such a restrained, natural performance in the titular role. Akermanās shot compositions are so extremely static that they truly give the feeling of being a wordless observer of the scenes sheās directing ClĆ©ment through. Iām sure there are many great essays on how Akerman leverages voyeurism, and I look forward to doing some deep diving here.
Jan 24, 2024
i love this movie so much
watch her short film, LE CHAMBRE (1972). one of the greatest things iāve ever seen.
May 21, 2025
Recently rewatched this movie and fell in love with it all over again. It's a slow paced movie by the director Chantal Akerman that. The movie follows MichĆØle, the protagonist, through her day and like the title says, paints a picture of a young girl at the end of the 60s in Brussels.
I guess my takeaway from the movie is that love can present itself in different forms and there are no right or wrong ways in going about that and exploring the different ways to love. This movie leaves me with a deep love for life, even though I'm not quite sure wether that's what the film is trying to provoke or if it's just because every time I hear the song Suzanne by Leonard Cohen I'm high on it for days, which kind of leads me to my last remark: The use of music in this movie is absolutely fantastic and feels like a delicately placed punch in the stomach.
It's on youtube for free (see the link) and only an hour long!
P.S.: This is my first post, I don't even know if this is the right way to use this website???
Apr 15, 2024
Top Recs from @rebekah
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Especially in the film world where thereās often a feeling of scarcity, limited resources, and competitiveness, Iām a big believer in approaching people (friends, collaborators, acquaintances, strangers) with openness and a how-can-I-help attitude ā itās way more fun and interesting! In an industry that does not support up-and-comers, itās important to remember there is room for everyone and weāre all in this together. Not to mention, being unkind, pretentious, or elitist is not actually cool and will not serve you well in the long run. People remember how you treat them.
Mar 23, 2023
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I donāt mean this in a dark or morbid way ā itās just truly a great reality check. Time is precious. (And if youāre dealing with death or loss, I like to recommend The Dark Interval: Letters on Loss, Grief, and Transformation by Rainer Maria Rilke ā a lovely collection of Rilkeās correspondences with bereaved friends and acquaintances during times of mourning).
Mar 23, 2023
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I love dropping GIFs into text exchanges for a little added flavor, especially during a āseriousā or ābusinessā conversation when the recipient least expects it. Everyone in my inbox knows my GIF game is strong ā I am particularly fond of āThe Godfatherā and āAri Goldā.
Mar 23, 2023