Southend CineScene: Jeanne Dielman, 23 quai du Commerce, 1080 Bruxelles

A Belgian housewife’s ordered routine unravels in Chantal Akerman’s hypnotic portrait of domesticity, repression and rebellion. Southend CineScene Presents: Jeanne Dielman, 23 quai du Commerce, 1080 Bruxelles (1975) Country: Belgium, France Director: Chantal Akerman Running time: 201 minutes Language: French, with English subtitles Certificate: 15 (UK) Starring: Delphine Seyrig, Jan Decorte, Henri Storck Format: Colour Over the course of three days in Brussels, Jeanne Dielman, a widowed mother, moves through the precise rituals of domestic life: preparing meals, cleaning, shopping and caring for her teenage son. To make ends meet, she also receives male clients in her home. But as small disruptions begin to unsettle her carefully ordered routine, the familiar patterns of her life gradually give way to something far more disturbing. Written and directed by Belgian filmmaker Chantal Akerman, Jeanne Dielman is a landmark of feminist and experimental cinema. Through fixed camera positions, extended real-time sequences and meticulous attention to everyday gestures, Akerman transforms domestic routine into a powerful study of labour, repression, time and the invisible expectations placed upon women. Anchored by Delphine Seyrig’s extraordinary performance, the film is both hypnotic and quietly radical. In 2022, Jeanne Dielman topped the Sight and Sound critics’ poll of the greatest films of all time — the first film directed by a woman to take the number-one position. Demanding, immersive and unforgettable, it remains one of cinema’s most influential works. Please note: The film has a runtime of approximately 3 hours 21 minutes. Its deliberately slow, observational style is central to the experience.