107. Chantal Akerman: Jeanne Dielman, 23 quai du Commerce, 1080 Bruxelles

It’s about time. We tackle Chantal Akerman’s Sight and Sound topping Jeanne Dielman, and begin our series on her singular career. Ben introduces Akerman’s career, spotlighting her fierce conviction and crystalline vision, Eli loops in a melodramatic reading, and Wilson zeroes in on an ending that explosively caps off a 3.5h opus. And if you’re struggling with how to approach this film, as entertainment or as art, just remember: it’s about time.Links:Behinds the scenes of Jeanne DielmanSlant magazine interview Article on Akerman Wilson’s Letterboxd reviewStephen Gillespie’s Letterboxd reviewAngelica Jade Bastien on LonglegsMake coffee at our FREE patreon, discord server, and our socials @ www.deepcutpod.comTimestamps:00:00:00 Intro00:03:03 General reactions00:13:26 The S&S list00:16:24 Akerman's career00:23:45 Plot summary and structure00:29:20 Cinematography and spatial representation00:32:14 Depictions of women and melodrama00:34:35 How Akerman directs Seyrig00:37:53 Everything is "real"00:39:10 Time00:42:14 Patterning00:46:40 What triggers the breakdown00:50:16 Relationship between mother/son00:57:18 Rituals00:59:24 The movie exists as many things01:00:25 It's place as #1 film01:04:10 Akerman's conviction and vision01:07:43 Scene dissections01:13:04 Exterior scenes01:16:47 Existential crisis01:19:12 In conversation with cinema and larger culture01:21:56 Ending01:30:36 Outro