Chantal Akerman: An American Cinematheque Retrospective

ABOUT THE SERIES:

The American Cinematheque is thrilled to present a thorough retrospective of renowned Belgian filmmaker, Chantal Akerman. Known for her distinct minimalist style, Akerman dedicated her filmmaking career to unearthing the complexities of female desire, solitude and domestic life. Outspoken about defying categorization, her work challenged the boundaries of identity. She has been praised for transforming feminist cinema and reframing the way queer relationships have historically been portrayed on screen. Over the next several months, the American Cinematheque will be presenting the notable collection of Chantal Akerman’s feature and short films.

Akerman’s first narrative feature, JE TU IL ELLE, captures female estrangement and the search for desire through the story of a woman’s two contrasting sexual encounters with emotional precision. Her most acclaimed feature JEANNE DIELMAN, 23 QUAI DU COMMERCE, 1080 BRUXELLES, became a landmark of “slow film.” With long takes and minimal narrative action demanding patience, Akerman rewards with a meditation on domestic oppression and the restrictive binaries imposed on women’s roles.

With a distinctive observational role, Akerman has also been lauded for documentary filmmaking wherein she documents alienation and fleeting rhythms of urban existence in works such as HOTEL MONTEREY and NEWS FROM HOME. This sensitivity to space and passing time is carried through her short films as well. From early pieces like the explosive “Saute ma ville” or the experimental “J’ai faim, j’ai froid,” to more space-bound shorts like “La Paresse” and “La Chambre,” she continues to reveal the depths of the female psyche with simplicity and emotional accuracy.

Join us in paying homage to Chantal Akerman’s distinctive voice and enduring impact on the world of cinema.