Synopsis
The main character, Michele, spends the hour discussing her views of life with some old and new friends, and tries to understand her own feelings about her place in the world and her sexuality, while a camera follows along at close range.
Portrait of a Young Girl at the End of the 60s in Brussels
1994 ‘Portrait d’une jeune fille de la fin des années 60 à Bruxelles’ Directed by Chantal Akerman
Director
Producers
Writer
Editor
Cinematography
Composer
Sound
Studios
Countries
Language
Alternative Titles
Tous les garçons et les filles de leur âge : Portrait d'une jeune fille de la fin des années 60 à Bruxelles, 1960年代末一个布鲁塞尔少女的肖像
Releases by Date
Theatrical
-
France
Releases by Country
France
04 Nov 1994
- Theatrical
Popular reviews
More-
Chantal can tell a story based in the '60s and not give a fuck that part of it takes place in a CD store. Deal with it.
-
The entire teen dance sequence near the end absolutely destroyed me. Most devastating party scene since the Tramp visibly deflated with his back to the camera in The Gold Rush.
-
"Even when I’m happy, I’m in pain."
"I think I understand."
"I’d be surprised. What’s worse is that I never show it. I’d rather die."
"It must be noticeable."
"I’d be surprised. No one ever reacts. Anyway, the more I hurt, the more I smile. I even sing. I get eccentric. Skip. Jump."
"So what?"
"So everyone says, what love for life, or the like. Yes, but… when I’m in pain, it’s as if something like revenge is triggered… I can’t stop talking. I’m witty. I’m funny. But inside… it’s not so bright." -
I adore these films that exist (mostly) detached from historical context while being inexorably connected to them (kind of like American Graffiti and the Kennedy assassination or The Woman Who Left and the new president and the subsequent coup). They feel so hauntingly calm, while the burden of history looms on the horizon. A month from the events of the film, the student riots begin in France, and the Vietnam war will be in full swing (the latter of which is a subject explored in Claire Denis' sister film U.S. Go Home). A former student meets up with a former soldier; both are deserters.
Also interested by the film's portrayal of homosexuality, which is accentuated by the masculinity of its…
-
-
Portrait of a Young Girl at the End of the 60s in Brussels is a film about nonconformity. Nonconformity on how to dress, what to think, who to love, how to feel. It’s a film about the challenges of not fitting in within the cage of social norm, and the anxious back and forth pacing that occurs while figuring out how to break free from a stifling complacency that chokes you.
Chantal Akerman’s semi-autobiographical film follows a day in the life of 15 year old Michèle. The premise is quite simple, yet brimming with introspection. A restless Michèle decides to skip school, resulting in a series of musings and interactions, primarily, with best friend Danielle and French Army deserter Paul.…
-
the cut from the james brown song to the protagonist's face is highkey the best moment in cinema
-
This perfectly captures how it feels like to be a young girl who feels a lot of things and nothing at the same time, who tries to understand her confusing feelings, who tries to make sense of the world, and who deals with homosexuality silently without being aware of it.
-
CW: sexuality, consent
Pointedly set in April 1968, you can feel the youthful dissent pervading every frame as the titular woman disconnects from the standard teenage narrative to explore her city, her sexuality, and her life. Most notable (to me) is the intense isolation she expresses at the end as she is tacitly rejected after a dance with another girl; being the only queer girl you know is draining. Most remarkable, to me, is in the movie theatre, with the boy, she gives explicit consent. Not just some body language nonsense, not some vague expression of desire, outright consent to kiss. "Just" to kiss. (Hi, fellas, keep this in mind: never, ever touch another person without expressed consent.) That's such a rare bird I fell in love even more somehow.
52 project: 108/52
note: "Portrait of a Lazy Woman" is not in the database, but counts as 52 project #107 -
Filme produzido pra TV francesa como parte da série "Tous les garçons et les filles de leur âge", mesmo projeto do "US go home", possivelmente meu filme preferido da Claire Denis até hoje. O mais impressionante no filme da Akerman é uma dimensão anacrônica que ela assume, os personagens teoricamente conversam como se estivessem nos anos 60, mas caminham pela Bruxelas dos anos 90 (com direito até a uma cena em loja de cd); e nesse sentido o filme tem todo um gesto universal muito possibilitador, já que ao mesmo tempo que ele invoca alguns sinais de maio de 68 (especialmente na figura do Sartre), os diálogos geralmente partem de questões que todo jovem existencialista, em qualquer década pós-60, com certeza já se viu vitimado, todo um fatalismo adolescente muito bem encenado pelo jovem casal (Circé Lethem e Julien Rassam incríveis) que apesar de todo o cinismo trágico característico nunca deixa de ser carregado de uma energia muito autêntica.
-
Similar in style to Before Sunset but with depressed teenagers uncertain about their (bi)sexuality. I loved how the historical context was subtly woven into conversations haunted by a sense of social change on the horizon and worries about the resurgence of fascism, something which resonates today. The dance scene with the Leonard Cohen soundtrack made me tear up a little bit.
"Dont you feel like something is about to happen? Things can't stay like this."
"No, they gotta blow up. They have to." -
“generally when I don’t agree with people about Sartre, I stop talking to them.”
in one hour, Akerman earnestly weaves the fabric of resonating adolescent angst, scepticism, and despair through sweeping conversations along the blazing Brussels streets and shops. a chance encounter in the cinema introduces Michèle to Paul, resulting in declarations of existentialist ideas, familial problems, uncertainties and worries about the future. but what connects these two is their abandonment of authoritarian attitudes which pollutes establishments people are forced to attend; one dropped out of school whilst the other got out of the military. their unspoken understanding culminates to a slow dance to alienation and displacement; they hold each other to Leonard Cohen’s sacred hymn of platonic love, Suzanne.…
