Jeanne Dielman, 23, quai du Commerce, 1080 Bruxelles (The Criterion Collection) [DVD]

"Jeanne Dielman"(1975) is directed by Chantal Akerman. This one of a kind movie is extremely minimalistic and depicts the routine life of a Brussel woman's humdrum life. She supports her spartan life by prostituting herself in her home to the occasional male client a few days of the week. The film stretches out to three hours and twenty one minutes and focuses on what often seems like real time images of her ritualistic everyday activities, such as making dinner for her and her son (who arrives home later every day for dinner before going to bed), washing dishes, sitting and drinking coffee, reading the newspaper and going out on her daily stroll to pick up supplies for her meals. Nothing much happens in this film but nevertheless it is surprisingly captivating, much as it would be to have a pinhole into the next door neighbour's house, but this all leads to a rather surprising conclusion.The set has a number of special features, including discussions with the director, and interviews with the actor Delphine Seyrig, and a booklet with an essay by film scholar Ivone Margulies.

This isn't doesn't have any car chases or shootouts or computer-generated anything, but there is a story that has suspense, tension, and drama. Who could imagine all of that could be found following a housewife as she goes through her daily routines. Chantal Akerman does a masterful job of heightening the mundane into a riveting exercise in observation and reflection. It's a breath of fresh air anytime I want to get away from the guns, the noise, and the mind-numbing chatter of conventional narrative cinema and indulge in a meditation.

This is one of the most amazing films of all time in my opinion! It is absolutely fascinating and hypnotic to watch the main character do many household chores in “real time,” the result of which drives home the monotony, sadness, and joyless aspect of her existence. The film thematically harkens back to the story, “The Yellow Wallpaper,” written by Charlotte Perkins Gilman in the late 19th century.

you almost feel hypnotized watching this very interesting film......and the ending is a kicker. most interesting film I have ever watched!

A brilliant cultural critique of the tedious, repetitive life of a middle-class widow and mother who for the sake of bourgeois respectability buries her own desires. An original, hypnotic film by feminist director Chantel Ackerman. I’ve never seen another film like it. An “art film” which forces the viewer to not only to watch but to experience the erosion of a woman’s spirit.

Stupid movie and totally boring and the ending is ridiculous. Don't waste your time!

A triumph.

If you stick with it, you'll see a rewarding masterpiece. I remained engrossed by it and the hours flew by to the end.

WONDERFUL FILM!!!!!!!!!!

This is not a run-of-the-mill, standard, conventional movie. Not at all! We watch a single mother living with her teen-age son in a small apartment, doing her daily chores. In the afternoons, we see her serving clients in her bedroom. Without a background music and hardly any conversations, this routine continues three consecutive days and we observe this most unusual story three-hours-and-twenty-one minutes. The woman is Delphine Seyrig and she is absolutely fabulous in this very demanding role. She is on the screen constantly; she lives --and displays-- the life of Jeanne Dielman, the leading character, incredibly well. The director of the film is a twenty-five-year-old Chantal Akerman and she proves that she would become an outstanding cineast at an early age. Thanks to Criterion, we now have a great re-mastered copy of this 1975 production.This is a gem. This is a remarkable work-of-art. Do not miss it!

This film problematizes the voyeurism of cinema by pushing it to an extreme. Its humour is subtle, hidden in the apparently boring and implicitly sad daily living of Jeanne Dielman.

I don't believe that Chantal Akerman could have ever anticipated the love and critical appreciation for her initial masterpiece. RIP Ms Ackerman :(

Je m'attendais à voir un film comme tous les films...soit avec un dialogue.Ce n'est pas le cas. Par contre la comédienne joue tellement bien son rôle que tu veux continuer à regarder le film pour voir ce qui va se passer. Et quelle vie ennuyante qu'est la sienne. A voir mais par ceux qui n'aime pas trop l'action.