Chantal Akerman is one of the greatest female artists to have ever worked in the medium!
One of the foremost proponents of the ‘Slow’ pace of work, Chantal Akerman is a force of nature. Her vision is fiercely independent and original, her work in the early 70s can be noted as one the originators of the slow cinema style. Akerman hails from Belgium and her form in cinema is a reflection of her life, often mixing her innermost anxieties and visions with the medium she is a true auteur in every sense of the word. Her camera lingers on subjects and brings out their true humanity; her innermost conflicts are reflected within the frames of her work. The list contains the best works from her filmography which can serve as a guide for anyone who wants to get to know her work better. This list is also in chronological order, this will help you to understand where to start with her work. It is not advisable to start from her most popular work, because then one misses out the natural way in which her style has evolved.
One of the beautifully unique works filmed in New York City, News From Home is an outsider's perspective on the city that never sleeps, it is based completely on Chantal Akerman’s own perspective while living in one of the biggest cities on planet earth, hundreds of miles away from her home country of Belgium. The work is based around letters that her mother sends her from home, and a voiceover reads the letters slowly and gently through the cityscape of New York, every shot is centrally composed and the camera is steady showing the city in the early 70s which almost feels like a time-capsule. This is one of the most beautiful works of nonfiction ever shot.
This is another classic from the filmography of Chantal Akerman, she herself features in this film as the titular character , it is extremely personal and deals with very complex issues. It is fascinating to see how one’s personal expression can take such a profound shape in this medium, a must-watch for the ones trying to learn more about personal expression and the medium.
