Frühe Kurzfilme

A cinematic triptych exploring the search for—and discovery of—a wordless language. In "Saute ma ville", we see an 18-year-old girl (Akerman) performing everyday tasks in a kitchen, yet doing so in increasingly manic ways. The situation escalates, culminating in an explosion. The film sat in a lab for two years before reaching Belgian television, where a broadcast turned it into a surprise hit. "La Chambre" offers a stark contrast: a kind of homage to Michael Snow composed of three camera pans. Finally, there is the nocturnal exploration of New York’s "Hôtel Monterey"—presented in long tableaux that move from the entrance up to the roof, where the sun rises in the morning. Chantal Akerman: "I breathe a sigh of relief; I have truly become a filmmaker."
(Florian Widegger)

Program:

Saute ma ville
Director: Chantal Akerman
Country: BE
Year: 1968
Screenplay: Chantal Akerman
Cinematography: René Fruchter
Cast: Chantal Akerman
Format: DCP, B&W
Version: No dialogue
Runtime: 13 min

La Chambre
Director: Chantal Akerman
Country: BE/US
Year: 1972
Screenplay: Chantal Akerman
Cinematography: Babette Mangolte
Cast: Chantal Akerman
Format: DCP, color
Version: Silent
Runtime: 11 min

Hôtel Monterey
Director: Chantal Akerman
Country: BE/US
Year: 1972
Screenplay: Chantal Akerman
Cinematography: Babette Mangolte
Format: DCP, color
Version: No dialogue
Runtime: 65 min