Arte is broadcasting the film “Jeanne Dielman, 23 quai du Commerce, 1080 Brussels” this evening at 8:55 p.m., but why does this title and this address really exist?
Jeanne Dielman, 23 quai du Commerce, 1080 Brussels was elected in 2022 the best film in the history of cinema by 1,639 film critics, programmers, archivists and academics for the reference site Sight and Sound. Since then, the film is officially considered one of the classics of the 7th art to have seen in its lifetime.
What does Jeanne Dielman, 23 quai du Commerce, 1080 Brussels, say?
With Jeanne Dielman, director Chantal Akerman exposes, through the daily life of her main character (played by Delphine Seyrig), the alienation of a widow and mother, isolated, solitary, whose day stretches, made up of preparation meals, her life as a stay-at-home mother and moments of prostitution necessary for her survival. But one day, this well-calibrated daily life begins to turn upside down…
It is also about the identity of a woman, and that is why the film is called “Jeanne Dielman, 23 quai du Commerce, 1080 Bruxelles”. The mention of this address also refers to her condition: she is a housewife, prisoner of her apartment and the alienation of her past married life (and which continues despite the death of her husband).
But does this address exist?
Google “Google Street” view of 23 quai du commerce in Brussels
But is it possible to visit Jeanne Dielman's exact address in Brussels? The answer is yes. 23 quai du commerce does exist, as evidenced by its location on Google Maps. Fans of Chantal Akerman's work can therefore go to this address (today shops topped with apartments).
Released in 1976, Jeanne Dielman reshuffles the cards of the couple as it was mostly envisaged at the time, with the figure of the man bringing the money home while his wife waits for him, prepares his meals, maintains the house and fulfills his “marital duty”. The feature film also deals with the awakening of desire, and his appropriation of his carnal desire.
If you liked the film, an almost complete box set of Chantal Akerman's work was released at the beginning of October by the publisher Capricci.
