As moviegoers waited Look and sound To release the latest iteration of their Greatest Movies of All Time list, they’ve warmed up a bit for the inevitable Twitter controversy. Which movie will take first place this time? Will it Dizziness again? Would Citizen Kane take back the throne? Maybe a new movie will come out and surprise everyone, for example Mulholland Drive or love mood. They discussed various possibilities, taking into account recent efforts to ensure diversity in voting, as well as how the landscape of film criticism has changed since the last poll in 2012.
But they did not count on Dilmania.
According to Look and soundaccording to the latest poll of over a thousand critics, the best film of all time Jeanne Dielman, 23 quai du Commerce, 1080 Bruxellesproducer Chantal Ackerman and released in 1975. Some moviegoers were delighted. Others were confused. An active minority stated that Look and sound Gone Woke, as if the list had been put together by a collective mind with a specific agenda, rather than the general consensus of a thousand arguing cinephiles. Others have never heard of Zhanna Dilman in general - and after checking for 15 minutes, there were much more questions than answers.
What is Zhanna Dielman about?
For the uninitiated: Zhanna Dilman depicts three days in the life of a titled middle-aged widow (Delphine Seyrig), who does housework, runs errands, and does occasional stunts as a prostitute. Most films would pare down the household, or at least make it dynamic and stylized for the enjoyment of the audience. Not Zhanna Dilman. With the background hum of fluorescent lighting as the soundtrack, we watch footage after long, static footage of Jeanne doing housework, more or less in real time. She washes dishes, peels potatoes, folds blankets and shines shoes; in some ways it’s more interesting than it sounds, but otherwise it’s just as interesting as it sounds. The movie is over three hours long, and even its fans (myself included) will tell you that it feels like an hour longer.
So how did this film, still obscure to those who aren’t die-hard cinephiles, jump from 36th place in its previous incarnation? Look and sound list all paths to number one? There are several different reasons, all of which have to do with how cinema (and film criticism) has changed in the last 10 years, as well as what has remained the same.
Changing demographics played a role
When Look and sound conducted their first poll in 1952, they polled 85 film critics and received 63 responses. (That year the first place went to 1948. Bicycle thievesproducer Vittorio De Sica.) For the next 50 years, the poll remained an exclusive affair, the unofficial canon of big cinema defined by no more than 145 (mostly white, mostly male) respondents. This began to change in 2012, when there were 846 respondents, and changed even more in 2022, when more than 1,600 respondents were registered. (And that’s not counting a separate survey of directors.)
The 2022 survey is by far the most diverse yet, and it shows in the results. In 2012, only two films directed by women Zhanna Dilman as well as Claire Denis’ Beau Travele, hit the top 100; in 2022 there are 11 of them, including four - Zhanna Dilman, Beau Travele, Cleo 5 to 7as well as Meshes of the day — in the top 20. This diversity manifests itself in several other ways as well, such as more films by black directors, but Zhanna Dilmanthe place at the top is the most stunning example of this changing landscape. Some, most notably that famous curmudgeon Paul Schroeder, have spoken out against what they see as “wake-up” excesses, but for most forward-thinking moviegoers, this change is long overdue. (Besides, at number three on the critics list, it doesn’t sound like Citizen Kane gone somewhere)
Reaction to contemporary cinema?
Zhanna Dilman not the longest movie Look and sound list - satantango, for example, is twice as long - but its reputation precedes it. It was designed as an unassailable behemoth, a three-hour endurance test; in Dark souls feature film, if you will. Following a recent listing, fans of the film have jumped into the fray for him, arguing that there is fun and even excitement to be found in his homemade dioramas. But it’s not worth arguing about the entertainment factor, and that could be one of the reasons why it’s ranked number one.
It is foolish, of course, to attribute a single motivation to such a large electoral mass. But you can see Zhanna Dilmanascension as an expression of defiance in a cinematic landscape where entertainment is paramount. Today, the box office is virtually monopolized by franchise-driven populist escapism, with so-called “adult” films available only in art houses; the pandemic exacerbated the problem, but it was on the move well before 2020. The audience’s attention span has shrunk to the point where a perfectly straight-forward drama like last year’s dog power he was joked about as an unfathomable fatigue - at the Oscars, where he competed for the best picture, no less. There is nothing wrong with populist entertainment, but when Steven Spielberg “Damn Steven Spielberg!” - with difficulty sits on the seats with cigarette butts, it is worth asking if there is too much space given up.
Yes, Zhanna Dilman complex hours; To paraphrase Jonathan Franzen, this is not a movie for when you’re not sure if you want to watch a movie or play paintball. But the value of a film should not be determined by its value as entertainment. Entertainment is good, but not Only thing and it should not be forgotten. At a time when “difficult” and “complicated” have become dirty words, when movies demand your attention with the clumsy enthusiasm of a golden retriever, it’s nice to see the recognition of a genuine work of art that requires you to participate in it. own terms.
“Zhanna Dilman” - just a great movie
Easy to get into Zhanna Dilmanimportance: his revolutionary feminism, his influence on slow cinema, how he influenced everyone from Todd Haynes to Sofia Coppola (and, oddly enough, Maid in Manhattan). But it would be a mistake to ignore the fact that underneath it all is just a flawless picture filled with superbly composed shots and backed up by Delphine Seyrig’s subtle, gripping performance. It may not be an attempt to entertain you, but once you learn to watch it, it’s an embarrassment of wealth.
I compared Zhanna Dilman to Dark souls earlier, and although it may seem like a silly comparison, I think it makes sense. Newbie Dark souls an exceptionally hostile experience. It’s incredibly difficult, with difficult fights and bosses that can kill you hundreds of times before you finally defeat them. Its world is vast and intricate, with key paths and upgrades hidden in distant, non-intuitive places. Where other AAA games sell powerful fantasy, Dark souls reinforces the insignificance of the protagonist (and, by extension, the player) at every turn. Some players will end up too frustrated to continue; others, however, will be on the wave of the game, learning by trial and error, and will be rewarded with rich, satisfying experiences.
Key to enjoyment Zhanna Dilman it’s the same as enjoying Dark souls. If you watch it just like a regular movie, after 20 minutes you will be clinging to the walls. When you see Jeanne breading a veal cutlet or peeling a potato, accept the fact that you will be watching her do it for the next few minutes. Consider every detail, from the color of the kitchen wall to the sound of Jeanne’s cutlery. Let your mind wander. Think about your household chores or what your mother did when you were a child. Study Jeanne’s facial expression and body language. Is she satisfied? Stress? What is she thinking? How does she feel? How would you feel if you were in her place? If you pay close enough attention, a dropped fork will make you jump and gasp; and then you will understand why this film is admired and loved for what it is.
Source: Collider
