Jeanne Dielman, 23 Quai du Commerce, 1080 Bruxelles (1976)

[iEnteredTheVoid]

i can peel a better potato, and I'm a guy.

[jennyhaytch]

Wow. Incredible. Heartbreaking.

Brilliant, I think. 

[vivienmerchant]

This film breaks the heart. Adapt to its rhythm, detail and seeming simplicity, and it will repay dividends. It is the definitive study of the trapped human. Chantal Akerman is extraordinarily perceptive and Delphine Seyrig the finest female actor of her generation. No other actor had the intelligence or incorruptibility of conviction, with the possible exception of Vanessa Redgrave. An essential work of cinema.

[lanquide]

It is definitely  not the kinda film you want to see after a long hard week,nonetheless you gotta admit it has clear and profound message. And that's what makes it bearable.

[ItBrandonSilver]

I watch it every single day!!!

[edmondbrooks]

What's the point of this movie? It came on TCM a few nights ago, I tried watching it but I fell asleep. Just by reading a few of everybody else's comments, maybe you have to be a woman to understand this movie, I don't know......

[mercednative]

WHITE LADY PEELING POTATO

[sleepcity]

@mercednative What does the fact that she's white have to do with anything? What was even the point of your comment?

[mignon888]

@mercednative

I am glad you posted that comment, since the key words peeling + potato helped me to find this Youtube video on my search.

But in France, people don't see color as in the United States, focusing on labeling someone black or white or anything else. I never thought of having a black uncle until I moved to America, where I realized that he would be labeled as black here, in France, people don't distinguish. Why should anybody?

[expos73]

@mignon888 Here in America, labeling has always been an essential part of subjugation of minorities. If the majority is going to enslave a particular race they must label them as something inferior in order to justify their actions. And in order to live with themselves. People could never openly subjugate someone they consider their equal. Currently, People label themselves as Black or whatever ethnic group and most consider their race to be what defines them as a person. Unfortunate but true.

[Mazurka1001]

It's about a middle-aged woman peeling potatoes.

[stephanesonneville]

@Mazurka1001

On chatroulette !

[expos73]

people that that don't appreciate this film are cretins ! this is a great and unique film.

[amt253]

@expos73 I see your point. But I can't tell you how frustrated I was while watching this film; I remember shouting at my TV, "READ A BOOK! DO ANYTHING! Just break your routine! No one's imprisoning you but you!" Maybe I'm being unfair to the kind of psychological duress Jeanne was experiencing, but I must believe that she could have chosen another life at any point, but simply didn't. And I desperately wanted to know WHY she didn't.

[expos73]

@amt253 The way I see it is that her strict routine was all that was allowing her to function at all. And a source of feeling she was in control of her life (which of course she wasn't) and when she lost control physically during the sex act she couldn't handle it and killed the guy.She had become a prisoner of the routine

and couldn't escape.

[amt253]

@expos73 It's so difficult to read the emotions on her face; hence my own frustration at not being able to reach her or understand her. But your interpretation has opened up the film in a whole new light to me. So thanks for that. However, the film is generally taken as a radical feminist statement... but to say that she imprisoned herself makes it read differently. I'll need to think about that.

[expos73]

@amt253 The film is indeed considered a feminist statement, but I am not clear what that that statement might be. I will leave that to the film critics. This is a film that could be analyzed to death,but it is not necessary to do that to enjoy the film. To me it is for the most part a film about a woman trying to keep her life together despite the fact that she is Bat-Shit crazy.

[blindmansarrow]

@expos73 by no means is she "bat-shit crazy." thats worse than over-analyzing; they's de-analyzing

[expos73]

@blindmansarrow You don't think she is crazy ! Well, her actions would indicate that she was.But, I agree that there is much more to the film than a crazy lady peeling potatoes. I was merely making the point that a novice film fan could appreciate it without analyzing.

[AMPFEAST]

what a hot MILF Jeanne is

[btopishere]

One of the Top 5 directorial achievements and performances of all time in my book.

[beethov3n]

the most boring movie ever made

[sleepcity]

@beethov3n Patience isn't a virtue Hollwood is much invested, nor has it inculcated it in filmgoers. Subtlety and nuance often translate into "boring" for those who've been raised on Spielberg, Lucas, Bruckheimer, and Bay. Maybe your time would be better spent watching those people's films?

[SomeRandomAhole]

Three and a half hours of boring feminist tripe.

[TheLynxer22]

@SomeRandomAhole nail on the head. Also add pseudo-intellectual.

[sleepcity]

@SomeRandomAhole Yeah, your username fits you well.

[shinyclick]

You pronounce "Jeanne" just like Jane except that "ea" is pronounced like "ah" like in the word "chacha" (you know, the dance).

[donkeybasketball]

long takes

[brenthoser99]

I really think she does not want to be peeling that potatoe

[expos73]

remember dan quayle ? no e in potato !

[brenthoser99]

actually it depends where you come from, on one hand you can be a prick and think that the way you pronounce/write something is THE only way to do it, or you can appreciate that there are other societies that are different from yourself. treat your neighbOUR right.

[expos73]

what society one is part of is irrevelant. there is no E at the end of potato ! take some constructive criticism. dont have such a thin skin ! (as in POTATO)

[pisiorak]

How to pronounce her name? I mean Jeanne.

[DonFarshido]

Heartbreaking in the most quiet and unforced way imaginable... These two women (actress and director) have the guts to show things without underlining them in red.

[ChecoChecoCheco]

just saw this last Saturday at the SFMOMA and its like three hours long but the film was cool. I need to watch it again because obviously from the lack of my enthusiasm, i'm not appreciating it as much as i should be. i think.

[TheEternalTriumphant]

Or maybe you just didn't feel enthused because it's a pretentious three and a half hour piece of mentally unsound feminist drivel.

[ChecoChecoCheco]

lol

[WhiteHatCowboy]

I saw this movie; I recommend it because it's very unique and memorable.

[candidnt]

Oh god. I cried. It's rare something moves you like that, and yet...it's like experiencing beauty in its purest form.

[FamGuyGuy123]

You're kidding, right?

[bakagaigin]

Hahaaha. I thought the comedic value of this was perfect.

[paperboy565]

one of the most incredible films ever made. i saw it at the boston museum of fine arts last month and it blew my mind.

[dandiacal]

I was at that particular screening. And it is on my list of the best movies of all time.

[MySuperstar09]

@dandiacal I have a question. what does the ending mean? i don't get it... i watched 3.25hrs with patience and complete attention and didn't understand the ending...

[drieaz]

this looks like a crisp new dvd of the film? Where is this available?

[pineapple10]

If you live in America, the DVD might be available at your local DVD store (and on the Internet, of course).

If you live in the UK, you can buy the Region 1 DVD from the US Amazon website.

I hope this helps... ^_^

[pineapple10]

Oops, sorry. The DVD is only available in France.

[spiderbaby1958]

Couldn't even find this on netflix!

I saw it in college. It's over three hours long, and most of it is very much in the vein of this short clip that seems to go on forever. And yet, I was amazed at how easy it was to sit through. I was permitted my own thoughts. In a darkened Lecture Hall, I could daydream and come back to the movie at will.

The actress was astonishing. She completely evoked her character without speaking or doing anything extraordinary (until the end!)

[lunaguitar]

↓makes me think'ing'? jesus. sorry.

[lunaguitar]

portait film. this one makes me thinking.

[epicentrobotamico]

ah! finalmente!

[viabilityjane]

In the late 70s, a striking contrast to American reptilian fX cinema, it entirely disrupted my narrative expectations, surprised with its quiet tension and temporal realism. These more than the cognitive dissonance and premis made it a landmark film for me, alone in having seen it for many years. Now it is benchmark-canonic.

[turboprof]

Ce film est bouleversant et le making of qui a été ajouté au DVD est très instructif sur la composition du personnage interprété par la troublante delphine Seyrig. On ressent son propre rapport au temps d'une manière différente après cette oeuvre, une sorte de cyclone muet.

[Cocopilou]

This is such a fantastic film. Shame it's so hard to come by.