Short
But elsewhere is always better
Mais ailleurs c’est toujours mieux

Dir. Vivian Ostrovsky, 2016, 4 min 7 sec
In French with English subtitles

Condensing a close four-decade long friendship into a moving short film, Vivian Ostrovsky uses her own footage of moments from Akerman’s life to illustrate the renowned filmmaker’s personality.

Feature
Chantal Akerman by Chantal Akerman
Chantal Akerman par Chantal Akerman

Dir. Chantal Akerman, 1997, 63 min, DCP
In French with English subtitles

“One of the finest filmmakers working anywhere… an excellent introduction to her work. A Must-See.” — Chicago Reader

When the French-German television channel ARTE asked her to participate in its revered Cinema, of Our Time series, Chantal Akerman jokingly suggested herself as subject matter. She envisioned a film consisting of excerpts from her films, grudgingly agreeing to include footage of herself when pressed by the producers.

Thus the film has two parts: in the first Akerman reads a text directly to the camera in a funny, often personal, and always thoughtful confession; in the second she creates an entirely new and original film out of a mosaic of clips taken from her extensive filmography. Including scenes from Jeanne Dielman, her best-known film, to excerpts from experimental films, comedic shorts, musicals, and narrative features, Akerman allows us to dive into her work and take stock of her immense talent.