News from Home

News from Home is an interesting film to receive a five star from me as this film fits into the category of films that are extremely dull on an entertainment level but on a spiritual and symbolic level; many films by Michael Haneke and the director's previous film, Jeanne Dielman 23 quai du Commerce 1080 Bruxelles, fit into this category.

On a surface level, like Jeanne Dielman, this film is extremely dull with shots lingering for minutes on end with nothing going on, monotone narration by its director, Chantal Akerman, and no apparent drama. This is a documentary, right? What the fuck is happening? Why is this so boring?

That's because this film takes its audience into the mundane and separated mind of Chantal Akerman. Upon this film's climax, I researched this film to discover that the letters sent to Akerman by her mother were acquired before her breakout feature Je Tu Il Elle and that the areas where the film frequents are where she wandered the streets of New York, feeling bastardized by the people around her due to how she struggled mentally in a place where she didn't belong.

Looking back at this film, it's extremely depressing like how Aftersun is depressing. It takes a while for you to figure it out, but when you do, you see how it benefits the direction and purpose of the film.

This film is about separation from loved ones and how their love spreads no matter the distance; I truly need to watch more Akerman films.

News from Home is an interesting film to receive a five star from me as this film fits into the category of films that are extremely dull on an entertainment level but on a spiritual and symbolic level; many films by Michael Haneke and the director's previous film, Jeanne Dielman 23 quai du Commerce 1080 Bruxelles, fit into this category.

On a surface level, like Jeanne Dielman, this film is extremely dull with shots lingering for minutes on end with nothing going on, monotone narration by its director, Chantal Akerman, and no apparent drama. This is a documentary, right? What the fuck is happening? Why is this so boring?

That's because this film takes its audience into the mundane and separated mind of Chantal Akerman. Upon this film's climax, I researched this film to discover that the letters sent to Akerman by her mother were acquired before her breakout feature Je Tu Il Elle and that the areas where the film frequents are where she wandered the streets of New York, feeling bastardized by the people around her due to how she struggled mentally in a place where she didn't belong.

Looking back at this film, it's extremely depressing like how Aftersun is depressing. It takes a while for you to figure it out, but when you do, you see how it benefits the direction and purpose of the film.

This film is about separation from loved ones and how their love spreads no matter the distance; I truly need to watch more Akerman films.

man i feel like this is a weird starting point for chantal akerman's filmography, i think if i had watched other films of her before, this might hit more. anyways this just simply didnt make me feel enough to praise it.

i do love the cinematography and how it detaches you more and more from her mother, and kinda makes you feel homesick at the same time.
also it feels like youre meditating cause theres so little happening and i feel a little more mindful after watching this.

very open to give chantal akerman another go but im a little scared of jeanne dielman because of its length therefore i might watch a shorter film of hers next..

Criterion Challenge 2026

man i feel like this is a weird starting point for chantal akerman's filmography, i think if i had watched other films of her before, this might hit more. anyways this just simply didnt make me feel enough to praise it.

i do love the cinematography and how it detaches you more and more from her mother, and kinda makes you feel homesick at the same time.
also it feels like youre meditating cause theres so little happening and i feel a little more mindful after watching this.

very open to give chantal akerman another go but im a little scared of jeanne dielman because of its length therefore i might watch a shorter film of hers next..

Criterion Challenge 2026

no me has llamao van dos semanas fuera y ni te has molestao

no me has llamao van dos semanas fuera y ni te has molestao

Bro, call your Mom…

Bro, call your Mom…

let’s pretend i’m not over a month late on this. oopsie, got a lot of film club catch up to do.

i feel pretty indifferent about this film, despite loving most of the shots and imagery in this, it went on a little too long for my liking. i must confess i haven’t watched much documentary in my time, but something like salesman is far more enjoyable to me, where there is a bit more of a story to follow and a lot less lingering silence.

it’s hard to determine how i feel purely because the world we live in now is so different from then. having experienced living abroad in the states for extended time i can somewhat relate to the notion of being far from home, but i also say this knowing i have a great relationship with my mum, we live in the modern era, and communication has never been easier. more than that, she was eager to talk when i needed it and selfless enough to leave me to my own devices when i enjoyed my freedom. i will say, if this lady was my loving mother, i think i would be driven nuts, all a little too guilty-trippy for me!

having said all that, maybe i’m not as indifferent as i thought i was (lol). while i didn’t particularly get any level of enjoyment out of this, at least it’s made me think.

let’s pretend i’m not over a month late on this. oopsie, got a lot of film club catch up to do.

i feel pretty indifferent about this film, despite loving most of the shots and imagery in this, it went on a little too long for my liking. i must confess i haven’t watched much documentary in my time, but something like salesman is far more enjoyable to me, where there is a bit more of a story to follow and a lot less lingering silence.

it’s hard to determine how i feel purely because the world we live in now is so different from then. having experienced living abroad in the states for extended time i can somewhat relate to the notion of being far from home, but i also say this knowing i have a great relationship with my mum, we live in the modern era, and communication has never been easier. more than that, she was eager to talk when i needed it and selfless enough to leave me to my own devices when i enjoyed my freedom. i will say, if this lady was my loving mother, i think i would be driven nuts, all a little too guilty-trippy for me!

having said all that, maybe i’m not as indifferent as i thought i was (lol). while i didn’t particularly get any level of enjoyment out of this, at least it’s made me think.