I knew that this was one of the longest films in the book 1001 Movies You Must See Before You Die, at over 3 hours long, I read more about this French film, I thought it was going to be either really boring or really intriguing, I hoped critics giving it five stars out of five would be deserved. Basically Jeanne Dielman (Delphine Seyrig) lives in 23 Commerce Quay, a one-bedroom inner city Brussels flat, she has been widowed for six years, she never really loved her husband and has no intention of remarrying, she wants to concentrate on caring for her teenage son Sylvain (Jan Decorte) and her apartment. The film takes place over three days, with Jeanne spending most of her time doing the household chores, bring particular and meticulous, including preparing and cooking dinner for herself and her son washing up, cleaning surfaces and having a bath. Jeanne occasionally gets out the house to do shopping and to pick something up or drop something off, she also often looks after her neighbour's infant son while the mother runs her errands for the day. But also in her daily routine, which Jeanna sees merely as just another chore, is working as a prostitute, allowing gentlemen clients to come to the apartment, to provide them with whatever sexual pleasure they seek, and when they leave she sticks the money in a savings dish. A few small changes to Jeanne's routine over a thirty-six hour period culminates with an experience she has never had with a client, which affects her psyche, when the man is rested she grabs a pair of scissors, stabbing him to death, following the murder she sits for a long amount of time still and silent. Also starring Henri Storck as the 1st Caller, Jacques Doniol-Valcroze as the 2nd Caller and Yves Bical as the 3rd Caller. Seyrig gives a studied performance as the ordinary woman with an ordinary life, the film is made up of a series of long takes, mostly of the dispassionate normalness of the title character, whether its peeling potatoes or eating without talking, there is nothing exciting, and not much dialogue. The violent climax is worth the wait, I think actually it is the lack of action that makes it much more interesting, the rhythmic repetition of everyday occurrences, an insight into the life of a working mother, and an audacious exploration of bourgeois feminism, a long but most worthwhile art-house drama. Very good!
