Jeanne Dielman, 23, quai du commerce, 1080 Bruxelles

Sight & Sound's Catherine Fowler's study of Jeanne Dielman positions it as a "contrary classic" due to director Chantal Akermans decision to frame an unliberated housewife through a "slow looking." Fowler's research reveals an alternative origin story centered on female alliances forged through shared film culture and lived sexism, challenging viewers' expectations of cinema and asking them to feel time slipping away.

\n Format: Paperback / softback
\n Length: 96 pages
\n Publication date: 18 November 2021
\n Publisher: Bloomsbury Publishing PLC
\n

Catherine Fowler's groundbreaking work on Jeanne Dielman positions it as a remarkable and unconventional classic. This contrariness stems from director Chantal Akerman's decision to adopt a "slow looking" approach, which focuses on capturing the life of an unliberated housewife. By choosing to stay with Jeanne in the kitchen, the film challenges traditional cinematic conventions and deviates from Akerman's earlier films, which rejected domestic spaces, married life, and heterosexual scripts. Fowler's extensive research involves utilizing original footage, scripts, unmade projects, interviews, and various documents to meticulously reconstruct the film's creation. Through this meticulous exploration, Fowler uncovers an alternative origin story that revolves around female alliances forged through a combination of shared film culture and lived sexism.

For those viewers who embrace Akerman's invitation to spend time with Jeanne, their expectations of cinema are profoundly transformed. This film, more than any other before or since, reminds us of the precious time we allocate to watching movies. By making us engage in a more intense and prolonged viewing experience, it prompts us to reflect on the passing of time, both for ourselves and for the protagonist of the story. Jeanne Dielman challenges our perceptions of cinematic narrative, encourages us to look deeper, and evokes a sense of temporal disorientation that extends beyond the screen.

In conclusion, Catherine Fowler's study of Jeanne Dielman offers a fresh and insightful perspective on this cinematic masterpiece. Through her meticulous research and thoughtful analysis, Fowler reveals the film's alternative origin story, highlighting the power of female alliances and challenging our conventional notions of cinema. By inviting us to immerse ourselves in Jeanne's world and experience the passage of time alongside her, the film prompts us to reflect on the value of our time and the profound impact that movies can have on our lives.

\n Weight: 154g\n
Dimension: 135 x 190 x 10 (mm)\n
ISBN-13: 9781839022821\n \n