
Jeanne Dielman, 23, quai du Commerce, 1080 Bruxelles
- Wed, Mar 5
The Frida Cinema's seating is first-come, first-serve. For our Midnight Screenings, please plan on arriving by 11:30pm to ensure ample time for parking, picking up concessions, and securing optimal seats. Screening will begin promptly at midnight.
Director: Chantal Akerman Run Time: 202 min. Release Year: 1976 Language: French
Starring: Delphine Seyrig, Henri Storck, Jacques Doniol-Valcroze, Jan Decorte, Yves Bical
Our month-long tribute to iconic French filmmaker Chantal Akerman opens with Sight & Sound’s #1 film of all time: Jeanne Dielman, 23, quai du Commerce, 1080 Bruxelles, now celebrating its 50th anniversary!
The film follows Jeanne Dielman (portrayed by Delphine Seyrig), a widowed housewife living with her teenage son in a meticulously ordered existence in Brussels. Her days are structured around cooking, cleaning, and occasional sex work to make ends meet. Shot in a slow, observational style, the film captures the monotony of her daily routine in real-time, emphasizing the quiet oppression of domestic labor. As the film progresses, small disruptions in her routine foreshadow a shocking, climactic moment of rebellion, making for an unforgettable study of alienation and psychological breakdown.
With Seyrig’s mesmerizing performance and Akerman’s meticulous approach, Jeanne Dielman remains a touchstone of feminist and experimental cinema.