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Chantal Akerman

Director

Chantal Akerman

Born June 6, 1950 in Brussels, BelgiumDied October 5, 201561 films

Chantal Anne Akerman (June 6, 1950 – October 5, 2015) was a Belgian film director, artist and professor of film at the City College of New York. Her best-known film is Jeanne Dielman, 23 quai du Commerce, 1080 Bruxelles (1975).

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Despite being categorised as such by others, Akerman frequently distanced herself from the feminist label, explaining, "when people say there is a feminist film language, it is like saying there is only one way for women to express themselves". Instead, Akerman acknowledged that her cinematic approach took inspiration from the writings of Gilles Deleuze and Felix Guattari, as well as from filmmakers Michael Snow and Jean-Luc Godard.

Many directors have cited Akerman's directorial style as an influence on their work. Kelly Reichardt, Gus Van Sant, and Sofia Coppola have noted their exploration of filming in real time as a tribute to Akerman.

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The best way into Chantal Akerman's work
Jeanne Dielman, 23, quai du Commerce, 1080 Bruxelles posterFirst watchJeanne Dielman, 23, quai du Commerce, 1080 Bruxelles19767.4A lonely young widow lives with her son following an immutable order: while the boy is in school, she cares for their apartment, does chores, and receives clients in the afternoon.View film

Essential films

Ranked by acclaim and reach
News from Home poster7.1News from Home1976Je Tu Il Elle poster6.5Je Tu Il Elle1974The Meetings of Anna poster7.0The Meetings of Anna1978Saute ma ville poster6.2Saute ma ville1968The Captive poster5.7The Captive2000

Filmography

61 films as director
  1. 2016No Home MovieDirector
  2. 2015NowDirector
  3. 2012My Mother Laughs PreludeDirector
  4. 2012Almayer's FollyDirector
  5. 2009Maniac SummerDirector
  6. 2009East with Sonia Wieder-AthertonDirector
  7. 2007The State of the WorldDirector
  8. 2007Nightfall in ShanghaiDirector
  9. 2007Interview with Aurore ClémentDirector
  10. 2007Interview with Babette MangolteDirector
  11. 2007Interview with my Mother, Natalia AkermanDirector
  12. 2006Down ThereDirector
  13. 2004Tomorrow We MoveDirector
  14. 2004Making of Tomorrow We MoveDirector
  15. 2003With Sonia Wieder-AthertonDirector
  16. 2003From the Other SideDirector
  17. 2000The CaptiveDirector
  18. 1999SouthDirector
  19. 1997Chantal Akerman by Chantal AkermanDirector
  20. 1997The Day When...Director
  21. 1996A Couch in New YorkDirector
  22. 1994Portrait of a Young Girl at the End of the '60s in BrusselsDirector
  23. 1993From the EastDirector
  24. 1993Moving InDirector
  25. 1991Lest We ForgetDirector
  26. 1991Night and DayDirector
  27. 1991For Febe Elisabeth Velasquez, El SalvadorDirector
  28. 1989American Stories: Food, Family and PhilosophyDirector
  29. 1989One Day Pina Asked...Director
  30. 1989Franz Schubert's Last Three Piano SonatasDirector
  31. 1989Three Stanzas on the Name of SacherDirector
  32. 1986Golden EightiesDirector
  33. 1986Seven Women, Seven SinsDirector
  34. 1986Portrait of a Lazy WomanDirector
  35. 1986Mallet-Stevens StreetDirector
  36. 1986Letters HomeDirector
  37. 1986The HammerDirector
  38. 1985The EightiesDirector
  39. 1984Family BusinessDirector
  40. 1984Letter from a Filmmaker: Chantal AkermanDirector
  41. 1984I'm Hungry, I'm ColdDirector
  42. 1984Paris Seen By... 20 Years AfterDirector
  43. 1983The Man with the SuitcaseDirector
  44. 1982Toute une nuitDirector
  45. 1980Tell MeDirector
  46. 1978The Meetings of AnnaDirector
  47. 1976Hotel MontereyDirector
  48. 1976News from HomeDirector
  49. 1976Jeanne Dielman, 23, quai du Commerce, 1080 BruxellesDirector
  50. 1974Je Tu Il ElleDirector
  51. 1973Le 15/8Director
  52. 1973Hanging Out YonkersDirector
  53. 1972La chambreDirector
  54. 1971The Beloved Child, or I Play at Being a Married WomanDirector
  55. 1970UntitledDirector
  56. 1968Saute ma villeDirector
  57. 1967Examen d'entrée INSASDirector
  58. 1967Knokke: Une petite fiction 2Director
  59. 1967Knokke: Une petite fictionDirector
  60. 1967Bruxelles: La soeur et la mère de MarilynDirector
  61. 1967Bruxelles: À la Foire du MidiDirector